NETWORKS EUROPE The magazine for network and data centre professionals FUTURE PROOF RESILIENCE FOR THE DATA CENTRE July/August 2020 POWER DISTRIBUTION TODAY'S DIGITAL FIRST CULTURE DATA CENTRES OF TOMORROW Making big decisions about how to approach data How the supply chain is supporting the operator Why we need networks that can adaptLET’S CONNECT LET’S CONNECT! 01908 282200 | enquiries@dunasfern.com | www.dunasfern.com Draka E-Series Reduced O.D. Fibre. Smallest O.D. available in class. • 20% reduction in outer diameter on the E-Series cable • Double the tensile strength from previous E-series cable - Metallic Armoured from 1000N to 3000N - Non-Metallic Armoured from 1500N to 3000Nwww.networkseuropemagazine.com CONTENTS 03 50 06 News The news desk highlights some of the industry stories. 22 The data centre of tomorrow Businesses have been forced to make some big decisions about how they approach their data. 24 How network visibility can protect businesses in the new tomorrow Is network visibility the cornerstone of businesses cyber-strategy? 26 Disrupting the built environment with converged network infrastructure The full potential of the IP approach is only being realised in pockets – not across the built environment as a whole. 28 AI and machine learning Data centres need to differentiate themselves to survive. 32 Global remote working forces a move from hardware to software The global public health pandemic is putting the IT world under a serious stress test. 34 How data centre operators can reduce energy consumption The role of cooling technologies in the transition towards green data centres. 36 Future proof resilience for the data centre of tomorrow Organisations of the future need to be resilient in both their critical infrastructure and their calibre of leadership. 40 The key to smarter managed business networks is in the cloud Successful business networks need to rely heavily upon smarter management in order to keep businesses operating, customers engaged and workers safe. 44 Getting cabling into buildings the smart way Successful business networks need to rely heavily upon smarter management in order to keep businesses operating, customers engaged and workers safe. 46 Remote working in a time of crisis Organisations have been rapidly growing their remote-access networks and moving much of their operations into a virtual world. 48 Today's digital first culture Why we need networks that can adapt. 50 Power distribution for the decade of data How the supply chain is supporting operators to enhance efficiency, resilience and flexibility. 54 Creating future-ready building infrastructures Technology drivers such as Power over Ethernet (PoE), WiFi-6, convergence and Building Internet of Things (BIoT) are changing the design, implementation and management of data and power infrastructure. Is your network future-ready? 58 Movers and shakers We take a quick look at some of the industry's movers and shakers, including new appointments, promotions and personnel changes. www.networkseuropemagazine.com CONTENTS 03 NETWORKS EUROPE 1 Tudor Business Centre, Waterhouse Lane, Kingswood KT20 6EN www.networkseuropemagazine.com Published by: Abacus Communications Limited Publisher: Greg Ward Editor: Laura Vallis Sales Executive: Keith Foster 243450 The views expressed in the articles and technical papers are those of the authors and are not endorsed by the publishers. The author and publisher, and its officers and employees, do not accept any liability for any errors that may have occurred, or for any reliance on their contents. All trademarks and brandnames are respected within our publication. However, the publishers accept no responsibility for any inadvertent misuse that may occur. This publication is protected by copyright © 2020 and accordingly must not be reproduced in any medium. All rights reserved. Networks Europe stories, news, know-how? Please submit to editor.networks@abacus-comms.co.uk including high resolution (300dpi+ CMYK) images.www.networkseuropemagazine.comwww.networkseuropemagazine.com We're in this together! With some form of normality beginning to appear on the horizon, the team at Networks Europe have been giving some serious thought as to what we can do to really help you get your business back on track. We know things have been tough, so for a limited period we are offering highly discounted 'bounceback' marketing packages which we hope will not only save you money, but help get your business back on the road to recovery. Our packages can be tailored to meet individual needs and budgets and offer a potential marketing mix of in-magazine (hyperlinked) advertising, digital marketing via website and/ or email, in-magazine feature articles, online product showcases and advertorials. Simply get in touch to discuss your requirements. Contact: Keith Foster Office: 01366 728488 Mobile: 07970 883870 email: keith@hillviewmedia.com Forthcoming issues of Networks Europe will contain features on the following subjects: Sept/Oct Issue - Cold Aisle Containment - Pre-terminated Cable Systems - Test & Measurement - DCIM Nov/Dec Issue Energy Management Smart Buildings Data Erasure / Recycling Wireless NetworkingEditor's Note The words 'new normal', 'unprecedented' and 'social distancing' have littered our vocabulary ingestion over recent months and will no doubt be with us for a while to come – at least until we find a vaccination for Covid-19. But with lockdown easing, we finally have businesses tentatively heading back to the office to rebuild and become stronger amid the economic crisis. However, we're recognising that key functions such as IT and security, remote working and dealing with cyber- criminals working overtime have become more important than ever. In this issue we take a look at the data centre of tomorrow, how to future-proof and accommodate that new normal, and how flexibility is critical to enable scalable changes due to unprecedented demands of data. Resilience is key, in both critical infrastructure and leadership. We see that technology drivers such as Power over Ethernet (PoE), WiFi-6, convergence and Building Internet of Things (BIoT) are changing the design, implementation and management of data and power infrastructure. We ask, is your network future-ready? Of course, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are at the forefront of future-proofing and the interest in adding these to business models is fast gaining momentum. Organisations look to find patterns within their data that can deliver greater business and customer intelligence and predict future trends. The challenge of this decade is how to prepare for the unknown. Has being able to see what tomorrow might bring become even more crucial? Without the benefit of a crystal ball, AI or indeed ML, Networks Europe is always looking to support the data centre industry however and wherever we can. We know the last few months have not been easy for anyone but we'd like to thank all our contributors, features writers and advertisers that have helped produce this issue of Networks Europe. Together, we can share our industry knowledge and connect our people - social distancing guidelines aware! Stay safe, stay well. Laura Vallis Editor Networks Europe FOREWORD www.networkseuropemagazine.com 05 www.networkseuropemagazine.com 05Power over Ethernet up to 610 metres Panduit, electrical and network infrastructure solutions company has announced its Power over Ethernet (PoE) extenders on UTP copper cable, which enables network connections to reach up to 610 metres (2000ft). This new series of devices support full duplex (bi-directional simultaneous) data transmission up to 100Mbps for 100BASE-TX or Fast Ethernet applications. Supplying power and data to up to 4-IP devices through a single copper cable, PoE extenders represent an easy to install, cost effective solution for multiple applications. Using a single copper cable (four twisted copper pairs), the new PoE devices extend the data signal and power supply by up to six times beyond the current limit of 100m without the requirement for additional components and allow support for all IP devices connected to the network. Additional range does not inhibit the provision of uninterrupted data from switch to multiple IP devices supporting Multicast, Unicast and Broadcast traffic. This new series of PoE devices is ideal for extending the signal of IP devices in such applications as security cameras, VoIP phones, access card readers, biometric scanners, lights and other sensors, found in commercial buildings, offices, hospitals, schools and parking structures. Compatible with currently available PoE and non-PoE switches, these devices can be easily implemented in existing infrastructure to extend PoE beyond the standard 100m distance, eliminating the requirement for intermediate distribution frames, fibre backbone and media convertors, providing a cost effective solution to adding additional IP devices throughout the site, inside and out. n Ampleon releases “breakthrough” Si LDMOS devices Ampleon has announced two additions to its 9th generation line-up of high-performance 50V Si LDMOS high-efficiency RF power transistors. Designed for use in ultra-high-power RF power amplifiers, capable of delivering hundreds of kilowatts, the BLF978P and the BLF974P are highly efficient and have high gain characteristics. Both power transistors offer an operating efficiency of up to 80 % at 225 MHz under Class AB operation. Energy efficiency is an extremely important aspect of kilowatt- output RF systems since the need for effective thermal management is a key design consideration. The transistors’ high power and gain ease the scaling of the amplifier to the high-power levels required by industrial and scientific applications. The 1,200 Watt BLF978P and the 500W BLP974P, typically offer a power gain of 25 dB at a frequency range of between 225 MHz to 700 MHz. The BLF978P and the BLF974P are available directly from Ampleon or authorised distributors, RFMW and Digi-Key. n Cradlepoint partners with Rigado to deliver a safe workplace solution Cradlepoint has announced that Rigado, a leader in low-power edge networks for IoT, joined its Technology Alliance Partner programme. Rigado is introducing a new Safe Workplace IoT solution, hosted on Microsoft Azure IoT Central, for companies getting back to the workplace under COVID-19 restrictions. Safe Workplace is “Connected by Cradlepoint” and will be the first to use the new NetCloud Edge Container Orchestrator for deploying and managing application containers on its wireless routers. As many businesses across the UK take measures to start welcoming employees back to the workplace, they will need to adhere to strict health and safety guidelines. These guidelines can include checks for shared spaces and desk occupancy and social distancing, and cleaning status. Additional capabilities include wayfinding, tracking and reporting on employee and contractor movement via badging and tagging. However, monitoring and enforcement can be challenging, especially for larger sites with thousands of people. IoT solutions with integrated camera and sensor technologies can reduce this burden by minimising human interactions, automating processes, tracking occupancy and movement, and notifying administration of compliance issues. “Microsoft partners are applying their creativity and ingenuity to help organisations manage the COVID-19 pandemic and support return to the workplace scenarios. Rigado and Cradlepoint have built an innovative solution on Azure IoT Central’s secure and scalable foundation to provide the spatial insights and connectivity needed to ensure buildings remain safe, clean, and healthy for its occupants,” said Bert Van Hoof, Partner & Group Programme Manager – Microsoft Azure IoT. Rigado’s new Safe Workplace solution is based on its Edge Connect platform and uses an open IoT architecture with plug-and-play cameras, applications, sensors and devices to provide critical workplace safety functions required under COVID-19 protocols and best practices. The integrated IoT solution provides occupancy monitoring, cleaning management and safety signage for common areas, restrooms and desks. Safe Workplace leverages Cradlepoint wireless routers for secure and reliable connections between Rigado IoT gateways and applications hosted in Microsoft Azure IoT Central. By contrast, closed IoT architectures require third-party sensors and devices to integrate with proprietary Application Programme Interfaces (APIs). This proprietary approach restricts the diversity of IoT devices available and increases the time it takes to bring new innovative solutions to market. “Rigado’s Open Edge Framework enables us to combine best-in-class sensors, cameras and devices with Cradlepoint wireless routers to quickly deliver flexible and extensible solutions to the market,” said Kevin Tate, Chief Marketing Officer at Rigado. “Because of the breadth of plug-n-play IoT devices available, customers can start using our Safe Workplace solution immediately and expand it over time without worrying about interoperability issues.” Rigado is further streamlining its Safe Workplace IoT solution with Cradlepoint’s new edge container service called NetCloud Container Orchestrator (NCCO). Part of the Cradlepoint NetCloud platform, NCCO enables Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT) personnel to build, deploy, run and manage Docker-compatible application containers directly on select Cradlepoint wireless routers with full integration into NetCloud management, connectivity and security functionality. NCCO is available today for compatible NetCloud Advanced service plans. “Our new alliance partnership with Rigado highlights the valuable real estate Cradlepoint occupies at the customer edge for running distributed computing functionality,” said James Bristow, SVP EMEA at Cradlepoint. “We developed the new Cradlepoint NetCloud Container Orchestrator service to help customers and partners leverage this real estate for container- based applications at the edge. Benefits include improved performance and reduced WAN, hardware and cloud storage costs.” n www.networkseuropemagazine.com NEWS IN BRIEF www.networkseuropemagazine.com 06NextGen Communications agrees long-term education plan with CNet training NextGen has announced that it has committed to upskill and professionally certify their teams across their entire company with CNet Training. The training and development contract provides NextGen with access to technical education programs from The Global Digital Infrastructure Education Framework for all team members to work towards ambitious companywide objectives. The bespoke learning package allows NextGen to pick and choose the technical education programs that are most suitable for their immediate and longer-term needs over the next 18-24 months. As new projects arise, new members of the team join and as existing members of staff progress, NextGen will work with CNet to decide what skills and training they need to enhance the skills and competencies of their team. This type of learning model allows organisations like NextGen to implement plans to achieve their long-term strategy. CNet works with organisations to create professional development packages that allow the company to confidently meet the requirements of the business today and helps to meet future business and customer demands. NextGen’s commitment to on-going development allows them to benchmark the skill sets of their teams. Providing them with the knowledge, skills and competencies, evidenced with official certification and internationally recognised qualifications to fulfil their roles now and plan for future career progression. The certifications provided by CNet also show a commitment to life-long learning as the re-certification process, required every three years, brings the individuals’ knowledge up-to-date to reflect the latest technological advances within the industry, including standards and codes of practice. CNet’s education programs are meticulously designed to support the data centre and network infrastructure sectors. CNet’s leading technical development team works alongside the industry to create programs that match the exact requirements of the industry now and considers the predicted trends and ever-evolving needs of the industry going forward. Andrew Stevens, CEO, CNet Training, “We are delighted to be working alongside NextGen Communications to provide their technical education and development needs. This investment highlights to the industry their commitment to continually looking for ways to build, strengthen and equip their teams with all the technical knowledge and confidence they need to be able to drive growth and development within the business and continue to deliver their services to the highest level.” Ross Chalmers, Senior Partner, NextGen Communications, “We are proud to announce that we are working with CNet Training on a long-term professional development strategy to invest in our workforce. We have over 30 years’ combined experience in specifying and installing network infrastructure solutions and are continually striving to deliver a unique and proactive service for the client. We have a long-standing relationship with CNet, a lot of our teams have completed the Certified Network Cable Installer (CNCI) certification. We now also have the option to bring in new entrants to the organisation via CNet’s Network Cable Installer (NCI) Apprenticeship which provides a structured and funded route that allows us to have a consistent pipeline of highly trained and competent installers. Working alongside CNet helps us to continue to deliver to the highest level of quality and service to all our customers, as well as offering our teams professional personal development and progression whilst maintaining our competitive advantage." n Heficed paves the way for widespread IP accessibility for Equinix clients Heficed, provider of network infrastructure solutions, has announced they are bringing the IP Address Market to the Equinix platform. This will provide widespread accessibility to IP assets for Equinix customers, levelling out the playing field for companies with limited capacity to build their own IP infrastructure and contributing to the growth of the world's largest ecosystems of interconnected partners. In order to provide continuous quality service, businesses need sufficient IP resources to sustain the growth of their operations. IP Address Market will enable Equinix clients to access a vast amount of IPv4 addresses, paving the way for streamlined and accelerated scalability. The exhaustion of IPv4 addresses has put up new barriers for scaling business; the IP Address Market helps Equinix clients break through these obstacles with the resources needed to grow and sustain their operations much faster, and without aggravating the IP shortage issue. IP exhaustion was a predetermined problem, as no one had anticipated the scale at which the internet would evolve; the 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses were not meant to sustain the rapidly growing IoT market and the vast amount of always-on connections. In 2019, the last regional internet registry ran out of available IPv4 addresses, escalating the issue even further. The IP Address Market mitigates the problem as it enables unused IP addresses to reenter the market. Consequently, it provides access to extensive IPv4 resources, enabling businesses to lease necessary IPs and continue scaling their operations without contributing to the current strain placed on the market. "IPv4 shortage has had its effect on hindering technology development and limiting operational expansion," says Vincentas Grinius, CEO of Heficed. "We developed the IP Address Market with the goal to support businesses in overcoming the challenge and provide them with the much needed IPs. That's why we are excited about presenting Equinix customers with more opportunities to scale their ventures." This will further accelerate the development of the IP Address Market and bring the concept of IP leasing one step closer to being recognised as the new industry standard, enabling more efficient resource allocation and helping to build sustainable IP infrastructures. Recently Heficed enhanced their Geolocation search feature, enabling IP address selection by the desired location. In the near future, the company plans to roll out additional features, such as Take Away IPs (TAIP), Bring Your Own IPs (BYOIP), and automated IP health checks. The end goal is to have full operational sustainability with zero need for provision. n NEWS IN BRIEF www.networkseuropemagazine.com 07 www.networkseuropemagazine.com 07Schneider Electric introduces Easy UPS 3L 500 and 600 kVA Schneider Electric has introduced the Easy UPS 3L, the newest part of the Easy UPS 3-phase Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) range, extending the medium range to 500 and 600 kVA (400V) for external batteries. Available in all regions that support 400V except China and Japan, the Easy UPS 3L simplifies and streamlines configuration and service, delivering high availability and predictability to medium and large commercial buildings, data centres, and light industrial UPS applications. With its compact footprint, highly available parallel and redundant design, and robust electrical specifications, Easy UPS 3L protects critical equipment in a wide range of environments from damage due to power outages, surges, and spikes. It is up to 96% efficient to bring predictability to utility costs. Easy UPS 3L includes a wide battery voltage window and accommodates a variety of battery configurations including battery banks. It comes with a full range of options and accessories making it easy to integrate into different environments. “Thanks to an exceptional combination of competitive specifications; robust, flexible, and fault-tolerant design that enhances availability; and an optimised footprint that saves valuable real estate, the Easy UPS 3L is the ideal choice for easy business continuity and optimised investment, whether it’s on your shop floor or in your electrical room,” said Mustafa Demirkol, Global VP, 3-Phase UPS Offer Management & Marketing, Schneider Electric. “It is easy to configure, easy to use, and easy to service. By further extending the Easy UPS 3-phase range, Schneider Electric continues to fill a market need by offering easy, robust, and competitive solutions that prioritise safety, efficiency, and availability for today’s connected businesses.” Customers benefit from Schneider’s global service setup with strong local networks of service specialists that provide customers with a complete range of services throughout the entire Easy UPS 3L lifecycle. The start-up service is included to ensure the Easy UPS 3L is properly and safely configured for best performance, reliability, safety, and peace of mind. n The benefit of critical equipment hire amid a data centre supply chain dilemma Data centre operators and providers should consider the benefit of critical equipment hire, following multiple reports of disruption and delays of infrastructure projects and to the lead times of vital equipment. According to the Institute for Supply Management, 57% of companies have noted longer lead times for tier one China-sourced components, with average lead times more than doubling compared to the end of 2019. With supply chain issues being reported across the global data centre market, Aggreko is reminding data centre providers and operators to consider rental solutions to ensure infrastructure projects or cooling requirements are not impacted during this crucial time. Across the globe, construction and maintenance is starting to be phased back, including significant data centre infrastructure projects. As building work is ramped up, so too will the demand for equipment and there are some concerns that the supply chain will not be able to provide the same support as agreed prior to lockdown. Whether it is critical equipment for new data centres, testing facility capacity or sourcing replacement parts during the maintenance of existing facilities, implementing a temporary rental solution can keep facilities in operation when waiting for components and critical equipment to arrive. Rental power and cooling solutions are scalable and flexible. Any output requirements can be satisfied over any period of time, and this can be adapted if these requirements or timeframes change. If the arrival of components and parts that are required during the construction or maintenance of a data centre is delayed in any way, operations could see significant delays. With data centre demand at a peak in order to facilitate remote working and medical data storage, and with a rise in demand for new infrastructure to facilitate emerging tech - such as 5G - downtime or delays are simply not an option. “Rental solutions could mean the continuation of operations when there are delays in the delivery of critical equipment,” says Chris Rason, Managing Director at Aggreko. “Whether it is a power or cooling system, temporary solutions are scalable and flexible and so can be implemented in any size of data centre for however long they may be required.” He adds, “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Aggreko has continued to operate at full capacity. This means that rental can provide a stop-gap solution for data centre projects, while the supply chain returns to capacity. As the data centre industry starts to return, having an added safety net of rental equipment can ensure delays are minimised.” n www.networkseuropemagazine.com 08 NEWS IN BRIEF Q Associates acquires Apex Group Q Associates has announced the acquisition of Apex Group. The combined company will employ around 80 staff, with turnover in the region of £35M. Apex Group complements Q Associates’ data centre infrastructure and data management solutions. In addition to specialist networking capabilities encompassing LAN, WAN and WiFi technologies, Apex Group brings a range of cloud migration and integration services with significant expertise around Microsoft Azure Cloud, Modern Workplace, Business Applications and Data Analytics. Together, these will offer significant value to Q Associates clients across all sectors as they increasingly rely on Microsoft technologies to deliver critical workloads. “The acquisition of Apex Group represents a significant development for Q Associates and our clients who are striving to embrace the benefits of digital transformation and cloud productivity,” said David Cue, Founder and Managing Director of Q Associates. “This is a key step as we continue to expand our digital services portfolio, supporting customers with specialist services across modern workplace, data centre and cloud environments.” Gerry Allan, Managing Director of Apex Group joins the Q Associates board. “The move will benefit both parties,” he said. “Our combined technical capability will enable us to support customers with a full range of expert services at a time when the IT landscape is rapidly evolving.” nR&M and partners launch Single Pair Ethernet System Alliance R&M recently participated in founding the Single Pair Ethernet (SPE) Alliance with Phoenix Contact, Weidmüller, Fluke Networks and Telegärtner. These leading technology companies are bundling and exchanging SPE expertise and knowledge in a targeted manner. The group’s main goal is to drive development of SPE for Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and collaborate on related technological challenges. The companies aim to accelerate development of their SPE technology expertise, ensuring this can be implemented in their products faster and more reliably. Recently, Datwyler, Kyland, Microchip Technology, Rosenberger, SICK, O-Ring, Draka/Prysmian Group, and University4Industry also joined the Alliance. The lineup means the Alliance covers a wide range of industries, applications and application areas. Together, these parties are preparing the market for SPE. SPE, based on xBASE-T1, uses a single twisted pair for data transmission and miniaturised connectors. SPE can replace the traditional field bus, helping realise high density, fast connections and ease of installation. It offers uniform manufacturer-independent connectivity instead of introducing connectivity for each application. Ranges of up to 1000m and transmission speeds of up to 1Gbps enable use across applications, and installation is fast and easy, aiming to reuse and extend existing cable installations. SPE provides consistent IP communication from sensor to cloud, revolutionising industrial data transmission. Standardised pin connector patterns form the basis for the barrier-free networking of a wide range of components and devices, providing an alternative to today’s fieldbus systems. Smart buildings and factories can be cost-effectively realised by connecting devices to the building management system via LAN networks and the cloud. Application-specific fieldbus systems are no longer required, making gateways, complex interfaces, and different protocols obsolete. SPE is an ideal solution for connecting numerous small sensors and actuators in Digital Ceiling ‘zones’. Sensors, controls, WLAN access points and other distributed services are simply plugged in and instantly powered and connected to the network. Sensors and actuators are increasingly supplying data to IIoT applications. SPE’s miniaturised, standardised connection technology makes it possible to quickly and easily connect smaller sensors to Ethernet networks and power these. SPE transmission channels can be created from a wide variety of cables and plugs. Channel parameters such as bandwidth, attenuation, return loss, and shielding dimensions are currently specified in the system standards (such as ISO/IEC 11801) and connectors and cables are tailored to respective channels. Ethernet in general and SPE in particular play a central role in the establishment of the Industrial Internet of Things. University4Industry supports training requirements with online content dealing with various areas of IIoT, for example Ethernet APL. n CityFibre announces 10,000 jobs boost to roll-out full fibre infrastructure across the UK CityFibre, the UK’s third national digital infrastructure platform, has announced a three-year recruitment and training programme to provide up to 10,000 people with jobs upgrading the UK’s digital infrastructure to full fibre – the best available technology enabling the fastest and most dependable digital connectivity and broadband services. The Government has made the nationwide deployment of full fibre by 2025 a key target. This critical initiative will underpin Britain’s long-term economic recovery from the Coronavirus crisis, helping to level-up the economy by enabling access to ultra-fast digital connectivity for all. The recruitment programme will include the identification and training of thousands of unemployed UK residents as well as new job opportunities for qualified and experienced construction and telecoms workers. Jobs will be created within CityFibre’s growing pool of network construction partners delivering the up to £4bn rollout of full fibre infrastructure to over 100 towns and cities. The programme will target specific groups including service-leavers and those now unemployed as a result of the Coronavirus crisis. It will also seek to attract more women and individuals from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds, both of which are significantly under- represented in the construction industry. CityFibre will work closely with an expanding network of national employment and recruitment partners including: The Department of Work and Pensions, Construction Industry Training Board and the Career Transition Partnership as well as a number of other specialists such as the Women's Engineering Society. Recruitment campaigns to identify the first wave of trainees will begin later this month. Wherever possible, individuals will be recruited from the town or city identified for rollout, providing a much-needed boost to local employment and economies. CityFibre will continue to work closely with Local Authorities to identify local partners through which it can promote and deliver the programme. On successful completion of their training, recruits will be introduced to CityFibre’s local network construction partners and considered for a range of network delivery roles. The training and experience will provide them with long-term career opportunities in a sector critical to the UK’s future. Steve Holliday, Chairman at CityFibre said: “We’re delighted to launch our training and recruitment programme creating up to 10,000 jobs in such a critical and vibrant sector. The programme will reach deep into our society to include some of those most in need of opportunity. Ultimately, it will ensure the skilled workforce is in place to get the job done and at the same time provide up-skilling and well-paid jobs across more than 100 towns and cities. “In the wake of the Coronavirus, delivering the Government’s target of full fibre nationwide by 2025 could not be more important. Of all the infrastructure projects and industrial policies under consideration, full fibre will have the biggest impact in the shortest time, and for the least public money. It will help ensure that the UK not only recovers economically, but that it swiftly transitions to a greener, smarter and fairer economy in which to thrive.” n 09 NEWS IN BRIEF www.networkseuropemagazine.com 09 Share your news, contact the editor at: editor.networks@abacus-comms.co.ukNext >