It bought 100% of the shares in The Loop Manchester, an operator of a duct and sub-duct based fibre network covering the Greater Manchester area.
Brady Rafuse, CEO of euNetworks, said:“Manchester is an important and growing digital hub and we have been keen to develop our presence in the city for some time. It also enhances our super highway that runs from Dublin through to Manchester, London and Lowestoft.”
The Loop uses fibre that was installed by Atlantic Telecom in 2002, largely to support the Manchester Commonwealth Games of that year, but Atlantic went into administration and the network “remained largely dormant for over a decade”, according to The Loop’s website.
The network, with more than 180km of fibre, provides direct connectivity to data centres and ultrafast internet access to the private and public sector. This adds to euNetworks’ existing 42km of fibre in the area.
Rafuse said: “The acquisition of The Loop network strengthens our customer proposition in the bandwidth infrastructure market. As well as adding unique routes to our Manchester metro, the Loop provides us with a more local presence, the flexibility to connect more data centres and buildings and the opportunity for further expansion.”
The network connects into 20 data centres and two exchanges, and and provides high capacity internet into more than 70 key multi-tenant commercial buildings, said euNetworks.
Customers include the BBC and other broadcasters in Salford’s Media City as well as TalkTalk, which is also based in the area, and Equinix.
The Loop is run by managing director Ashley Griffiths (pictured), who said: “We’ve worked closely with euNetworks for a number of years in Manchester and I know our customers will immediately benefit from this acquisition. We remain focused on delivering a great service experience as well as more fibre-based service options to our customers.”
Rafuse said Griffiths and the team would stay with euNetworks.
Gamma CEO Andrew Taylor explained the sale: “We have developed The Loop into a successful and growing business which is now ready for its next phase and we’re really pleased that euNetworks has chosen to be its ensuing owner.”
He said euNetworks’ “extensive fibre footprint across Europe and the UK coupled with their customer centred approach to network development and investment is both impressive and innovative”.
