Not for profit company, IX Liverpool has connected and upgraded 6 more buildings in the Baltic Triangle to the new 100Gbps Baltic Fibre Loop.
What is the Baltic Fibre Loop?
The Baltic Fibre loop is an underground fibre optic cable that loops around the Baltic Triangle in Liverpool and connects up many of the Baltic’s buildings, businesses and organisations onto a single yet powerful and future proofed internet network.
The Baltic Fibre loop begins at the Cains Brewery end of the Triangle and loops around the entire area so that everyone has access to the fastest Internet in the region available, while also bringing direct connections from the networks of University of Liverpool, John Moores University and many Cloud Providers as well as access to many financial networks and various gaming servers.
Along the way, the fibre picks up the Hibernia Transatlantic Submarine Cable (from the USA), the Liverpool Internet Exchange (on Jamaica Street), the MICT Data Centre, several Games companies, Financial Services companies as well as providing the on-street Free Wi-Fi around the Baltic Triangle.
The fibre loop (much of which travels in Baltic’s underground sewers, drainpipes and on private land) has been specifically designed so each building on the Fibre Loop is connected with either a 10Gbps or 40Gbps service, helping to future proof it for many years to come.
Who is part of the upgraded 100Gbps Loop?
IX Liverpool members are using the fibre loop to provide various services to their customers such as high speed internet access, but also providing more “interesting” services for example:
Various Games companies are using it as a private network between offices to share content, test multiplayer games/servers while also accessing local supplier networks at super low latency
FinTech companies are using it for High Frequency Trading and Digital Currency trading and investing
The new and upgraded buildings that are connected to the Baltic Loop include:
- The Old Factory (a converted large factory warehouse on Watkinson St that opened in Aug 2019 and houses many technology companies)
- Jordan Street Studios (Home to over thirty creative, design, digital & media companies in this modern serviced studio office & co-worker space)
- MICT Data Centre (a brand new high-tech data centre on Norfolk St)
- Mariners House (a business centre and home to over 280 businesses)
- Shipwright House (a newly refurbished 1-4 person office and businesses centre, including a new live radio station for Liverpool)
- Charlotte House (home to various healthcare, IT and home care businesses)
100Gbps is a big deal
Fast and reliable internet is not the only benefit of the Baltic Fibre Loop, in these modern times having super low latency to services on the internet is vital to many technology companies, especially those in Financial Services, Gaming, Internet of Things and Healthcare Companies. The Fibre Loop helps the tenants of such connected buildings to compete on the world-wide stage while landlords of those buildings future proof their investments.
A good example is The Old Factory on Norfolk Street, it’s recent refurbishment has given the landlord an opportunity not only to bring in 40Gbps of Internet Connectivity for it’s tenants, but has enabled it as a Digital Building for the Internet of Things (IOT) as IX Liverpool members have installed a wide range of IOT Networks, Wireless Devices and Radio Transmission systems that will help usher in applications such as Connected Health Care and Environmental monitoring in the area.
Prof. Matt Wilson, Chair of IX Liverpool said “Landlords always want a competitive edge so they can enjoy growing yields and have for a long time known that having regular “off-the shelf” plain old Internet (at any speed) into a building is not the answer, instead, they know that in order to stay ahead, they need their building connected not only at the fastest speeds available, but with super-low latency to the Cloud and the local University’s networks, so that organisations can conduct research, develop and sell their services on the world-stage”.
“Each of these buildings now have the ability to gain internet speeds up to 100Gbps and at super-low latency while also enabling applications that regular internet connections simply cannot provide”
Certified Buildings Scheme
In addition to the above, many of the regions buildings are also currently in the process of being audited and graded by the Liverpool Internet Exchange Buildings Certification Committee (LIEBCC) (who are supported by Liverpool City Council), which impartially scores the buildings incoming internet connectivity against a rigorous standard & framework which is then assessed by an independent auditor who issues the building with a “connected score” (based on the buildings Digital capability).
Buildings are then placed onto a searchable database so that the public and prospective tenants (who are looking for good connectivity from a range of providers) can checkout a buildings status and connectivity score.
Would-be tenants benefit by now being able to check a buildings connectivity status before committing to a lease for example, or perhaps use the information in the negotiation phase of their new office lease.
Landlords and tenants can compare internet speeds
Savvy landlords who’ve invested into their buildings connectivity (via the scheme) are also benefiting as many are not only gaining tenants sooner (therefore reducing vacant periods hugely) but recent data has shown that landlords are now gaining increased rental yields as many tenants are willing to pay increased rents for such prime real-estate.
The scheme has also benefited the Liverpool Community Region as a whole as inward investment has been increased though businesses moving to the region (from the South of the UK for example) and into these prized assets that would otherwise remain unattractive to these businesses (that are used to better connectivity).
Already, the committee has had many enquiries from businesses looking for new premises which range from help finding a connected building (on the scheme) to helping match their technical requirements against a list of possible buildings from the space on offer.
Although the scheme was founded in the Baltic Triangle, it has now been rolled out to other areas and buildings in the city such as The Tapestry, various buildings on Castle Street, Queens Insurance and the Tempest Building. The scheme is also now expanding its reach into Sefton as it is reviewing 3 new buildings to add to the scheme currently.
More information about the scheme can be found at www.ixliverpool.net/certified-buildings
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