[London, England, 31 October 2012] Collaboration between Netadmin Systems, Fluidata and Magdalene on the implementation of a joint Service Exchange Platform (SEP) has added more than 50 additional service providers to the groundbreaking EU funded Digital Region network.

Customers who use the SEP to connect to the network can receive maximum combined throughput speeds of 100Mbps and an unprecedented selection of service providers.

David Cowell, COO at Digital Region, said: “The service exchange platform offers a real boost for broadband users in South Yorkshire. We built a world-class communications infrastructure and have now added an excellent service provider choice to rival any network in the world. The operational support system connecting consumers to these service providers is now as advanced as the fibre network itself. This puts the region in pole position to take advantage of the opportunities presented by the digital economy.”

Phase one of the network build was completed in March 2012 giving 80 percent of South Yorkshire access to the network, covering 440,000 residential properties and 40,000 businesses. To enable the new boost in choice, Swedish open access network management specialist Netadmin Systems, integrator and managed services partner Magdalene and business Internet provider and ISP aggregator Fluidata, partnered to implement the solution.

The three companies had previously worked together to provide superfast broadband access to a ‘not-spot’ in Hampshire, but this is the first time the three companies have worked together to provide access to superfast broadband on a fully commercialised next generation network. 

Torbjorn Sandberg, CEO of Netadmin Systems, which developed the operational support system enabling the different ISPs to operate on one network, said Digital Region now offers more choice than almost any network in Europe.

“The Service Exchange Platform allows ISPs to interoperate on the Digital Region network, opening up unprecedented competition and choice for end-customers. Our solution enables end-users and ISPs to easily and automatically connect with one another, whilst also providing an ergonomic user interface making selection by customers exceptionally fast and easy. Residents and businesses in South Yorkshire now have more choice of ISP on their network than almost anywhere in the world,” said Sandberg.

The new ISPs available have been aggregated by Fluidata. Piers Daniell, Director at the company, commented:

“More than 80 percent of users in Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, Sheffield and the rural areas in-between, now have access to our 50+ ISPs. Not only do the people of South Yorkshire have an enviable network, but they also have access to a very competitive broadband market. This means increased choice for those customers in the region and a larger market for our service providers to access.”

Keith Lamport, Sale Director for Magdalene, added: “We are really pleased to see the first Digital Region customers on the platform. This is a really powerful step for independent network operators enabling their ambitions to compete with the larger operators.”

For more information about Digital Region visit http://www.digitalregion.co.uk.