October 14, 2010: Following the successful trial of its low cost fibre to the home network, i3 Group has today announced plans to deliver its first Australian Fibrecity in Brisbane, Queensland. All Brisbane’s homes and businesses will have access to 100Mb per second broadband within four years.

Work on the fibre optic network will start in early 2011 and will be delivered using the Group’s proven low cost methodologies which include the use of existing ducts such as the sewer system, and micro trenching to lay the fibre optic cables. The Group’s methods are far less disruptive than more traditional methods of building communications infrastructure, as it avoids road digs and also means it can be built much faster.

Elfed Thomas, CEO of i3 Group said, “The key to successful rollout of fibre to the home is cost. As Fibrecity networks are a commercially funded project, costs are critical. Our suite of technologies allows the cost per home to be up to 60% less than traditional build. We have completed a survey of the assets in Brisbane and conclude that these savings are realistic”.

As well as superfast connectivity, residents and businesses in Fibrecity Brisbane will benefit from increased choice of services and service providers, as the Fibrecity network is open access which means that any service provider can utilise the superfast network to deliver its services via the Group’s open access gateway. This approach reduces penetration concerns which have hindered other FTTH projects.

By the end of 2013, the i3 Group will have connected almost one million UK homes with broadband capable of supporting speeds of up to 1Gbps on an open access wholesale basis. For business and commercial customers speeds will be even faster. The company has also completed trials in the USA.

Elfed Thomas said the Group’s Fibrecity networks are complementary to the work of the National Broadband Network (NBN).

“Our work with Brisbane City Council complements the NBN’s work by ensuring millions of Australian citizens have access to next generation Internet services through a cost effective and commercially viable fibre optic network.”

ENDS

For more information contact:

Pippa Davies
t. +44 (0) 151 244 5568
e. i3@insightmkt.com

Notes to editors:

Fibrecity networks provide a large-scale fibre-to-the home network which connects every new and existing home and business in a town or city. Fibrecity networks also offer an open access platform for multiple service providers to offer their services to connected homes.

Using sewer networks as small as 150mm in diameter to deploy the cable system (known as i3 Group’s FS System) puts the network in reach of all premises in a town or city with less disruption and cost. Fibrecity networks are successfully operating in the UK with no interference to the proper sewer operations.

In December 2009 the i3 Group’s FS System was used in Brisbane to build a 1.4km fibre optic network for the Council’s use. The trial was completed over three nights with no disruption to traffic flows.

About i3 Group Ltd

Formed in 2002, i3 Group is a pioneer of deploying dark fibre in the UK's waste water network to enable connectivity. Known as its patented FS System, this method is a fast and cost-effective way to lay fibre optic cable and link up any location without the high costs and disruption caused by road digging.

i3 Group comprises: Fibrecity Holdings Ltd, H2O Networks Ltd, i3 International Ltd, H2O Support Services Ltd, Fibre Associates Ltd, Wireless Network Systems Ltd, i3 Asia-Pacific Pty Ltd and i3 America.

Fibrecity, Fibrezone, Darc, Focus System Fibre Optical Cable Underground Sewer System (FS System) are all registered trademarks of i3 Group Limited

For further information please visit: www.i3-group.co.uk

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