Colt lassos a fiber backhaul deal with Three UK

Colt Technology Services has landed a deal to be mobile provider Three UK's preferred provider of fiber backhaul connectivity. The deal with Colt is part of Three  UK's $2.6 billion investment to upgrade its network, which it said would include increasing 4G speeds by up to 150% as well as "delivering the U.K.'s fastest 5G network."

Three UK said Colt’s fiber would provide 20 times more backhaul capacity on the sites it is being deployed on, which would give "customers a faster, better and more reliable experience." Colt's fiber network will come in handy for Three UK's recent upgrades to over 4,000 sites for improved 4G, a fully virtualized core network, 20 new data centers and 5G in more than 100 locations.

“Colt has been readying itself for the future of mobile connectivity, said Colt CEO Keri Gilder, in a statement. "We are excited that Three UK has recognized our capability, and has named us as a strategic partner for its 5G deployments. We believe in the transformative power of connectivity, and we know 5G is going to drive businesses and societies forward, so we are thrilled that the Colt IQ Network is going to play a critical role in the 5G evolution for the UK.”

Financial terms and the length of the deal weren't disclosed.

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Fiber is a key component for 5G services. In addition to fiber backhaul, fiber is also being used to connect small cells to networks. Colt has more than 29,000 on net buildings globally and connects to over 900 data centers across its footprint.

Three UK, which says it has three times as much 5G spectrum as its nearest competitor, suffered a two-hour outage on its mobile network Wednesday, according to the Daily Mail.