The internet doesn’t seem physical, We type in a web address and within a second, it’s loaded, but in reality, it’s a very physical process that has to take place. As your request whizzes down your broadband connection, onto your ISP’s network and onto an internet exchange or peering point. From there it will be […]
This cable landing station was built by NTL back in 1998 for their Sirius south cable to Dublin. It was built in an industrial unit on leased land however in 2008, Virgin Media were notified that the lease would not be renewed and a housing development was planned for the site. Due to the complex nature […]
This cable landing station was built by Cable North West in 1996 (Planning) but later became Telewest and then Virgin Media. Recent Plan’s shows the C&W Rackspace inside. It’s unknown where Lanis1 landed between 1992 and 1996 but its likely this is the current landing station. It’s also possible Manx Electricity Authority’s 2007 E-LLAN lands here. The […]
This cable landing station was built by BT in 1964 and used as a cable landing station between Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands. It also played a major role in BT’s radio network linking London to Europe. In the late 1980’s, Racal Telecom marketed a 40 Gbps pan-UK route via MCI Worldcom Cornwall, through Bristol, […]
Vodafone is one of the most recognisable brands, worldwide with many thinking it concentrates on mobile phones, however, Vodafone is a formidable force behind the internet and this post will explain how Vodafone got so big and how it controls many aspects of the internet as we know it. Racal Electronics plc was a British […]
All around the world, The Internet networks are converged and centralised in a number of data centres just in a few square miles, such as here in the UK, London is our internet hub with Canary Wharf in Dockland’s being home to many interconnections and data centres. Here in the South-West, Bristol is home to […]
Vodafone’s core network in Bristol is central to the city centre, with a PoP at 19A St Thomas Street and could be one of Bristol’s oldest IP hubs. This site was originally set up by Mercury Communications in 1987 as a core switching PoP for their mobile network. Later adopted by Cable & Wireless with […]
When the GTN was taking shape in 1999, Fibernet acquired the first floor, equipping it as a telecommunications PoP in the centre of the city. Fibernet was later acquired by Global Crossing in 2006 and then by CenturyLink. It appears, since then it’s vacated and was then taken over by shared-office uses in August 2014.
Back in 1994, Ipsaris (General Electric Company/Marconi) joined forces with British Waterways and rolled out a network next to canals nationwide, each investing £147,000. This was called Fibreway and during its rollout through Bristol in 2000, they acquired this building and installing generators and equipment for their new network. (View inside a PoP) Just over […]
In Feb 2000, Thus Plc planned a switching station at Unit B Merchant Trade Park Tamar Road Bristol BS2 0TX within walking distance of the Bristol Bandwidth triangle. Although initially refused. Just a few months later planning was accepted and it became an active PoP within Thus PLC, then Cable & Wireless and eventually Vodafone, who […]