Dark Fibre

Seamless network upgrade across the city’s key sites

Background
Newport City Council initiated a project to build a wide area network (WAN) connecting 25 key buildings around the city centre, including the Citizens Advice Bureau, Job Centre, Museum, Art Gallery, Theatre, Swimming Pool, Civic Centre, and two hub sites: the Civic Centre and NISV (a multi-sports facility). The goal was to upgrade the network infrastructure across these sites.

Solution
We replaced older managed leased line circuits with dark fibre connectivity, spanning approximately 15 km of newly installed ducting. The project took 8 months to complete. By forming a strong partnership with the Council’s Highways Department, we leveraged existing traffic light ducting at junctions, minimising road excavation and avoiding unnecessary disruption to the city.

A challenging project on a famous city high street.

Background
In 2014, we were tasked with installing dark fibre to connect Glasgow Dental Hospital on Sauchiehall Street with a main hub located in a large office block at the other end of the street. The fibre would carry sensitive medical records between the hospital and this offsite storage facility. Sauchiehall Street, being one of Glasgow’s busiest shopping areas, presented a unique set of challenges for our team.

Solution
We excavated 500 metres of new ducts along Sauchiehall Street and installed fibre between the hospital and the office block. The project required careful coordination with shop and business owners to minimise disruption, with much of the work completed outside of normal business hours. Additionally, our team had to navigate asbestos within the office building while routing the fibre to the required floor. Despite the challenges of working on a busy shopping street and managing the hazardous materials, the project was completed successfully, resulting in another satisfied customer.

Innovative solution for a large enterprise in a complex urban environment.

Background
In 2019, Glide was brought in by Ark’s architects to design the duct networks for their new data centre sites. A key project was at Meridian Park, Enfield, where Ark needed us to build infrastructure that would allow third-parties data access to the centre. The site posed unique challenges, being surrounded by the A406 flyover, Edmonton EcoPark, Pymmes Brook, Salmons Brook, a country park and the Lee Valley Navigation.

Solution
Between September and December 2019, we constructed two diverse routes for third-party access, with one route extending 1,800 metres and the other 550 metres. To overcome site constraints, we used directional drilling to excavate 180 metres under a 24-hour Aldi distribution centre, reaching a depth of eight metres. This approach was both cost-effective and minimally disruptive. We installed ducting and multiple subducts to allow third parties to blow their own fibre. Glide continues to manage and maintain the infrastructure, conducting proactive inspections twice a year.

A diverse dark fibre link for increased security and reliability.

Background
Following an initial dark fibre deployment in 2014, we were asked back to complete a second phase of work in 2021 to lay a diverse 6.6km dark fibre circuit connecting the main administration block to the University’s main campus, while taking a completely different route.

Solution
Using existing council-owned ducting, a team of Glide engineers laid the fibre over a four-week period. The University now own the dark fibre asset outright.