Manchester, UK – [10th September 2024] – Leading British alternative network (Alt.Net) operator Freedom Fibre has announced a strategic partnership with Digpro Solutions AB Sweden to replace their existing Geographic Information System (GIS) and Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP) network design tools with Digpro’s industry-leading dpCom Network Information System (NIS) software suite. This collaboration marks a significant step for Freedom Fibre as they continue to grow their 10Gbps capable FttP XGS-PON network, with coverage expanding to hundreds of thousands of premises across the North West and West Midlands.
This partnership follows recent milestones for Freedom Fibre, including the merger with VX UK and the success of Project Gigabit bids in North Shropshire and Cheshire. David Hough, Network Operations and Systems Director at Freedom Fibre, has emphasised the need to work with industry-leading suppliers to enhance efficiencies across the business and to streamline network builds across multiple regions.
A key factor in Freedom Fibre’s decision to select dpCom is its ability to seamlessly integrate with their current design and planning teams. dpCom will not only enhance design processes and provide opportunities to benefit from efficiencies, but also allow for the migration of legacy designs and data into a unified platform, ensuring a central repository for all network-related data.
David Hough commented:
“As part of our strategic review, we sought cutting-edge technology to replace our existing GIS, finance, project planning, and FttP design tools. With dpCom, we are confident in our ability to design and build future-proofed networks more efficiently. The solution offers a ‘cradle-to-grave’ approach, creating a Digital Twin of our network, enabling us to assess its value at every stage. The single centralised data repository, coupled with dpCom’s automation tools, will allow us to enhance workflows from finance, design, survey, build, project management and incorporate into operations, ultimately improving customer support and reducing costs.”
The adoption of dpCom will enable Freedom Fibre to create a dynamic ‘digital twin’ of their network, further automating designs and optimising operational workflows. Engineers in the field will also benefit from being able to access real-time mobile updates, reducing the impact of latency of design and build delays.
Jonas Vestin, Group CEO of Digpro, welcomed the partnership:
“We are thrilled to welcome Freedom Fibre into our growing list of UK Alt.Net customers. dpCom will help Freedom Fibre deliver on their mission to provide superfast 10Gbps broadband across the UK more efficiently, minimising delays and providing the time sensitive data they need to manage and mitigate risk. Our platform provides a deep understanding of the value of their network at every stage, and we look forward to supporting Freedom Fibre’s continued success.”
IXHUB, Digpro’s UK partner, played a key role in securing this deal and will continue providing localised support for dpCom’s integration and future adoption of the full dpCom suite. Jeremy Gray, CEO of IX HUB, expressed his excitement for the collaboration:
“This is a great opportunity to showcase the experience Digpro has gained supporting FttP network operators in Sweden and the Nordics over the past decade. We’ve worked hard to ensure that Freedom Fibre’s integration of dpCom was seamless, with no impact on their current BAU operations. We are confident this partnership will be successful for all parties involved and look forward to welcoming Freedom Fibre to the growing family of UK dpCom users.”
About Freedom Fibre
Freedom Fibre is a leading UK Alt.Net focused on delivering 10Gbps capable broadband to homes and businesses across the North West and West Midlands By leveraging cutting-edge XGS-PON technology, Freedom Fibre provides lightning-fast 10Gbps speeds and is committed to building an affordable, accessible, sustainable, and future-proof fibre network.
www.freedomfibre.com
About Digpro
Digpro is a global leader in developing software products for utilities, including telecoms, electricity, gas, and water. Digpro’s advanced Network Information System (NIS) supports the entire lifecycle of utility networks, from planning and design to operations and maintenance. Their Digital Twin technology provides a dynamic representation of networks, giving operators full control and insights into their assets.
www.digpro.com
About IXHUB
IXHUB is Digpro’s dedicated UK support partner, offering localised support and services for the dpCom platform as well as on-demand turn-key MDU and MBU network design advice. IXHUB collaborates with Digpro’s Swedish teams to ensure that UK network operators can fully leverage dpCom’s modular NIS, supporting every aspect of network design, planning, and operations.
www.ix-hub.net