Wildanet, one of 40 alternative network providers in the UK, has partnered with Xantaro to enhance fibre broadband coverage in Cornwall. This initiative under the Project Gigabit scheme aims to connect over 35,000 rural premises, fulfilling government goals to improve connectivity in underserved areas. Supported by £77 million in public funding, this effort promises substantial benefits for remote communities.
Central to this plan is Wildanet’s collaboration with Xantaro, a long-time partner and provider of advanced cabinet and exchange solutions. These solutions are engineered to streamline the deployment process, heighten reliability, and cut down operational expenses. Installation time and disruption are minimized as these infrastructures are pre-configured and tested off-site. Additionally, sound-reducing heat exchanger cooling technology guards cabinets against moisture, promising durable performance and lower maintenance.
The infrastructure also integrates Nokia Optical Line Terminals (OLTs) to ensure scalable, high-speed fibre access and uses VIAVI’s OTDR test heads to enable real-time fibre monitoring and fault detection. Remote out-of-band management allows for configuration and troubleshooting even when the backhaul isn’t connected, simplifying activation and reducing the need for on-site visits.
Wildanet’s solution is further bolstered by iLOQ smart locks for access auditing and environmental sensors to monitor cabinet conditions such as temperature and humidity. Xantaro extends support by providing mesh WiFi systems, ensuring consistent in-home coverage once installations are complete.
Stephen Kingdom, CTO of Fixed Networks at Xantaro, explained the significance of deploying smart infrastructure, stating, “Rolling out fibre networks at scale and speed requires smart infrastructure… Our fully integrated, pre-configured street cabinets allow altnets like Wildanet to deploy faster while reducing maintenance overhead.”
Despite these advancements, Wildanet faces challenges. The company recently laid off 35 employees, about 18% of its workforce, citing “external forces”. A spokesperson commented, “We are reviewing our resource requirements to align our business with the future full fibre roll-out strategy in the South West. This is in response to increased costs and the need to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.”
