Under the new agreement, Spitfire will interconnect its core network with BT Group’s EE 4G and 5G Radio Access Network. The Spitfire Unified Network will offer SME, enterprise and IoT customers improved connectivity and security, as well as flexible billing plans.
Spitfire already provides customers with the ‘best fit’ of available next generation fixed line fibre and private network connectivity, including direct access into Amazon AWS, Microsoft Azure and other cloud providers through Spitfire’s Cloud Connect solution.
This will now be expanded to include 4G voice and 4G/5G, data and IoT connectivity with Enhanced Mobile. Spitfire customers can now obtain a single unified network across their entire mobile and fixed line estate, for an end-to-end solution without the need for data to traverse the public internet, improving security and manageability.
The requirement for IPSec VPNs or similar networking security technology is potentially avoided, allowing for less equipment configuration time. Another technical benefit is that customers can specify a private APN network and bring their own IP address range.
Harry Bowlby, managing director, Spitfire Network Services, explained, “This new agreement is extremely exciting for Spitfire. By adding Enhanced Mobile to our service offering, we complete the jigsaw by enabling our customers and partners to benefit from easy access to one unified network solution for all of their connectivity needs.
“In conjunction they will continue to benefit from our experienced and highly trained UK based team providing the best levels of business class customer service.”
Alex Tempest, managing director, BT Wholesale, added, “We’re pleased to be working with Spitfire as they launch this new full MVNO service. BT Wholesale has worked with Spitfire for more than 20 years and we are excited for this next stage in Spitfire’s evolution, combining its end to end communications portfolio with EE.
“We’re proud that Spitfire has recognised the value of our network and our ongoing investment, with our ambition to provide 5G anywhere in the UK by 2028.”
The Enhanced Mobile and Spitfire Unified Network solutions will be commercially available in autumn 2023.