Thames Water and SSE Enterprise Telecoms partner for ‘fibre in the sewers’ project

Fibre optic cables will be deployed in London’s waste water system

Thames Water and SSE Enterprise Telecoms are partnering to install fibre optic cables in the capital’s waste water system.

The agreement is expected to allow networks to be created up to 10 times faster, “more directly and securely” using the existing waste water system in business areas such as the City of London.

Connectivity supplier, SSE Enterprise Telecoms has signed an ‘operating license to deploy’ agreement with Thames Water, which will enable the distribution of its fibre optic cables throughout Thame’s Water’s waste water network.

The deal also allows Thames Water to utilise its existing infrastructure without “any disruption” to general operations, while meeting EU and UK guidelines and helping to “support the UK’s digital strategy”.

Richard Hill, head of property, Thames Water, said: “Our Victorian sewers are already home to a number of pipes and cables belonging to other utility companies and we’re glad to also now be supporting SSE Enterprise Telecoms.

“Reducing roadworks and traffic congestion is something hugely important to us so it’s great to help a fellow utility company do the same by allowing them to make use of our existing infrastructure.”

Mike Magee, director of service solutions at SSE Enterprise Telecoms, added: “Businesses fundamentally rely on their network to underpin everyday operations.

“With an ever-increasing demand for connectivity, network infrastructures require higher resiliency and improved diversity.

“Estimates suggest there are as many as 3,000 enterprises in the finance and insurance sectors in the City of London area alone, each vying for connectivity. This has made the demand for unique, truly diverse network routes hard to achieve. We’ve identified a way to solve this by leveraging the waste water network”.

By utilising Thames Water’s already existing waste water system, SSE Enterprise Telecoms said it will be able to reduce network deployment costs by 60 per cent and deploy connectivity services up to 10 times faster than through traditional digs.