Trooli secures supply chain security with 15,000km cable contract

Independent ISP Trooli has signed a multi-million pound contract to secure its cable supply chain as it accelerates the rollout of its full fibre network across southern England.

The company has agreed an £11.6m, three-year deal with Networks Centre, which will see the West Sussex telecoms equipment distributor supplying 15,000km of its ultralight weight PIA fibre optic cabling. The cabling is is manufactured by STL, an industry leading integrator of digital networks.

This will enable Trooli to increase the speed it lays its network from its current rate of 673km per quarter to 1,000km as early as next Spring – underpinning its plans to reach one million premises by 2024.

Christine McCabe, Trooli Regional Build Director, said: “Having recently secured an additional £67.5m funding, and a long-term agreement with UK Power Networks, this three-year deal consolidates our most important supply chain artery and allows us to continue the rapid expansion of our network with confidence.

“We have been working with Networks Centre for the past 18 months and have developed an excellent relationship with them.

“Despite the challenges posed by Covid and the disruption caused by the blockage of the Suez Canal, they have ensured there has been no interruption to our cable supplies. They have proved to be very flexible, adapting drum sizes to our particular needs – which has helped us to reduce wastage – and have been responsive in tackling any problems that have arisen.”

Networks Centre supplies end-to-end fibre infrastructure – not only cable – as well as complementary services such as training and a test and measurement service.

Elliot Spooner, Resell and Export Manager at Networks Centre, added: “Trooli is a fast-growing provider of full fibre broadband and we are pleased to be working alongside them providing world-class optical solutions, developed by STL, to meet their exciting growth plans.

“Our warehouse and delivery vehicle infrastructure across southern England means we are on hand to support and supply Trooli as they develop their network in Kent, East Sussex, Berkshire and Suffolk.”

Trooli plans to be available to 170,000 properties by the end of 2021 (up from 100,000 currently), rising to 400,000 in 2022 and one million in 2024.

The privately-owned company recently secured a £67.5m investment from a consortium of commercial lenders. Trooli previously received €30m in backing from the Connecting Europe Broadband Fund (CEBF) and £5m from NatWest.