BT extends reach of UPC Digital TV services with Next Generation Network

BT, the global communications and IT services provider, announced that it has secured a five-year, multi-million euro deal with UPC to extend the reach of the cable operator's Digital TV services using BT's Next Generation Network.

Six towns will now have access to enhanced UPC products because of BT Gigabit Ethernet rings, tailor-made to meet the needs of the company's expansion plans. A northern ring will serve Sligo, Athlone and Mullingar, while a southern ring will deliver UPC services to Portlaoise, Carlow and Newbridge.

'Over the past year BT has invested in a national rollout of BT Etherflow, which is among the most advanced next generation ethernet services available in the Irish market. This has facilitated a new era in high speed connectivity, and we're delighted that we can offer customers like UPC tailored, cost effective network solutions that allows them to grow their business and meet their customers' requirements,' said Shay Walsh, Managing Director, BT Wholesale.

'This contract marks a strategic evolvement of a long-standing relationship with BT Ireland,' said Bill Daly, Network Vendor Manager of UPC Ireland. 'Through the design stages of this project, BT displayed openness to UPC's specific needs in terms of a future-proofed television broadcast network. This willingness to mould their products to our needs helped to conclude the deal.

'The Gigabit Ethernet rings enable UPC to widen the reach of their product portfolio to more homes and businesses across the six regional towns. Furthermore, infrastructural developments of this kind contribute to Ireland Inc., building a world-class smart economy that links regional towns in Ireland with each other and to deliver a competitive platform to compete on a global scale.'

Etherflow, BT's Ethernet service, is a scalable technology that can grow with a business at a lower price per megabit than existing network services. Removing the complexity around information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure, Etherflow enables BT to provide an end-to-end network service, a one-stop shop with local access circuits at one end and seamless connectivity to BT's global networks at the other.