Zayo's Geo Networks acquires UK's Digital Region assets, deepens UK network holdings

Geo Networks, which is now part of Zayo, has reached a deal to acquire the assets of the failed Digital Region broadband network in South Yorkshire, England, reports The Star.

Under the terms of the agreement, Geo is shelling out an undisclosed sum for up to 1,000 miles of fiber cable connecting 80 percent of premises across South Yorkshire.

The Digital Route network is set to be shut down on Aug. 14. A Digital Region spokeswoman said that the assets will be transferred to Geo Networks and decommissioning work will commence following the migration of all Digital Region customers from the network in August.

"Zayo plan[s] to incorporate the fiber assets into the nationwide Geo network, and provide high-bandwidth fibre services to businesses and data centers within the South Yorkshire region as well as carrying out the decommissioning of the existing Digital Region street furniture," Zayo told The Star in a statement.

Like many community broadband projects, Digital Region was a promising project that was led by South Yorkshire's four councils with a mission of bringing broadband to the county. However, the initiative went belly up after it attracted only 3,000 customers.

The network cost $154 million to build and an estimated $102.4 million to shut down. About $46 million will have be repaid to the European Union.

For Zayo, the acquisition will enable it to further deepen its fiber network presence in the UK. 

For more:
- The Star has this article

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