Broadband ISP and mobile operator Virgin Media and O2 (VMO2) have today announced that the recent introduction (here) of their new “next generation” Converged Interconnect Network (CIN) has already helped to improve its mobile network across the UK, not least by connecting 1,000 mobile sites to its proprietary 10Gbps fibre optic backhaul network.
In case anybody has forgotten, the new CIN essentially brings their fixed line (FTTP, DOCSIS etc.) and mobile networks (4G, 5G etc.) together in a way that will make them more efficient, resilient, scalable and flexible. This takes the core deeper into VMO2’s network, with IP routed networks deployed in the access network, and allows different services to coexist on the network and be managed more easily, with the end customer moving closer to an optimised, scalable and high-capacity network (i.e. data is aggregated closer to the end user before routing it back to the core network).
The 1,000 O2 mobile sites being discussed today were previously connected to a third-party backhaul connection, which VMO2 complained could “act as a bottleneck” at busy times. By connecting the sites to their own fibre network, O2 customers should benefit from a higher capacity network with greater throughput (faster mobile broadband speeds).
Steven Verigotta, Director of Radio & Mobile Backhaul Delivery at VMO2, said:
“We are always looking for ways to deliver a better network experience for our customers. By leveraging our converged network, we have been able to quickly and efficiently increase capacity and throughput at 1,000 mobile sites across the country, helping deliver tangible improvements for our customers. This is all part of our plan to provide customers with the best connectivity, no matter where they are.”
The operator claims that this approach to backhaul connections can also accelerate the rollout of O2’s mobile network in the future. “By leveraging its converged network and connecting mobile masts to Virgin Media’s fixed fibre network, the operator can remove the need to pay for a fixed backhaul connection provided by a competitor,” added VMO2.