FW Networks and Fusion Fibre Group Announce £45m Full Fibre Partnership

Rural Homes in Cheshire to Benefit from Gigabit Broadband Rollout

FW Networks and Fusion Fibre Group have inked a £45 million deal to bring gigabit broadband to 85,000 homes across rural Cheshire. The partnership aims to close the digital divide by targeting underserved areas with full fibre Infrastructure.

"This is a game-changer for our village," said Mary Wilkins, 58, a retired teacher from Bunbury. "We’ve been stuck with slow, unreliable internet for years. It’s held back local businesses and made remote work a nightmare."

Under the agreement, Fusion will provide £45 million in funding while FW Networks will handle network design, construction, and operations. Work is set to begin in Q3 2023, with the first homes connected by early 2024.

85,000 Premises to Get Future-Proof Connectivity

The project will cover 85,000 premises across Cheshire, focusing on villages and rural areas with limited broadband options. Residents can expect symmetric speeds up to 1 Gbps, a significant upgrade from current FTTC offerings.

"I run a small design agency from my home office," said John Davies, 42, of Tarporley. "Gigabit speeds will let me collaborate seamlessly with clients and upload large files in seconds. It’s going to boost my productivity immensely."

FW Networks plans to use Openreach’s ducts and poles to accelerate deployment and minimize disruption. The company estimates that 90% of the network will be built using existing infrastructure.

Fusion Fibre Bullish on Alt-Nets, Sees Consolidation Ahead

Fusion Fibre Group, launched in 2022, invests in alternative network providers to support the UK’s full fibre transition. The FW Networks deal marks its largest investment to date.

"We’re excited to partner with FW Networks to bring future-proof connectivity to Cheshire," said Fusion CEO James Brokenshire. "This project exemplifies our commitment to backing ambitious alt-nets that are driving the UK’s gigabit transformation."

Brokenshire sees ample opportunity in the alt-net space but predicts consolidation as the market matures. "We’ll likely see more mergers and partnerships as smaller players join forces to scale up and compete with the big incumbents."

Full Fibre Coverage Gains Momentum

The FW Networks-Fusion deal comes amid a surge in full fibre rollouts across the UK. Openreach, virgin Media, CityFibre, and a host of alt-nets are racing to expand FTTP coverage, spurred by strong demand and government support.

As of January 2023, full fibre reached 41.6% of UK premises, up from just 6% in 2019. The government has set a target of 85% gigabit coverage by 2025.

"The pandemic accelerated the shift to digital and exposed the limitations of our legacy networks," noted telecoms analyst Sarah Johnson. "Full fibre is now seen as an essential utility, not a luxury. Partnerships like this will help close the rural connectivity gap."

FW Networks CEO Aidan Paul hailed the Fusion deal as a milestone for the company and the region. "This investment enables us to futureproof Cheshire’s digital infrastructure and deliver a world-class broadband experience to tens of thousands of homes and businesses."

With work set to commence later this year, residents are eagerly awaiting the arrival of gigabit speeds. "I can’t wait to ditch my sluggish FTTC line," said Wilkins. "Reliable, high-speed internet will make such a difference to our daily lives. It’s about time rural areas got the same digital opportunities as the big cities."