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Biographies | Environmental | Regulation | National Network | Certifications |
THUS is a UK-focused business telecommunications company with a strong belief in its people and the services it provides to customers. At THUS, we have a world-class next-generation network (NGN), enabling us to deliver innovative and effective solutions to large organisations in the fast changing communications environment. Our early implementation of MPLS IP VPN technology has put us at the forefront of convergent solutions since the beginning, giving us the expertise that our customers need today and in the future.
Under our Demon brand, we are also able to offer a full suite of advanced business communication services to small and medium-sized enterprises, ranging from broadband and MPLS to High Speed Internet and VoIP.
With more than 1700 employees and an experienced board of directors, THUS has vast knowledge of the telecoms industry and many years of experience working with customers to ensure they benefit from the right solutions, at the right price, driven by the right people.
At the heart of our company is our belief in serving our customers to the highest possible level. We recognise the importance of listening to our customers and tailoring our products and services to make sure their business runs more effectively. Products and services are crucial to THUS, but they go hand in hand with service and quality, which are the cornerstones of our business and the differentiators by which we are
judged.
THUS
Next-Generation Network
Products and
services
Experienced senior management team
Financial
stability
History
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THUS Next-Generation Network |
A major part of our business strategy was focused on investing and building a state-of-the-art next-generation network, which we started building in 1999 and largely completed in 2001. This two-year build was the fastest rollout of this type of infrastructure by any British telecoms provider.
THUS was the first telecoms provider to develop a national network capable of offering fully converged services based on Internet Protocol and Multi Protocol Label-Switching, moves subsequently mirrored in BT's ongoing build of its 21st Century Network. Our NGN is resilient and gives our customers high levels of network availability and industry-leading Service Level Agreements across our portfolio.
THUS' NGN comprises 10,500km of fibre optic cable with more than 190 points of presence throughout the UK. The core optical network uses DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) technology to provide scalability to many hundreds of gigabytes of bandwidth, in line with growth demand. Our customers' traffic is safely and securely transported, managed and monitored across the THUS national network 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Our next-generation network, one of the most technically advanced in Britain, has already enabled us to exploit new opportunities for our customers. It provides a single platform for the deployment of advanced business applications, consolidating and extending disparate enterprise networks, and allowing both voice and data to live on the same advanced network. The result, a simplified communications infrastructure that delivers both performance gains and cost savings.
We have configured our NGN to ensure maximum performance and reliability at all times; we lead the industry in our reconvergence times.
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Products and services |
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THUS has developed one of the most comprehensive suites of telecommunication products and solutions for the business customer in the UK, underpinned by our state-of-the-art NGN.
Our portfolio comprises four key market segments: data, voice, Internet and hosting. We have invested a lot of time and effort in ensuring that we have a full and detailed knowledge of the products that fit these segments, such as broadband, MPLS IP VPN, voice and Ethernet LAN extension.
To complement our product portfolio, we offer customers a range of managed solutions, whereby we take on the responsibility for managing all, or part of your communications infrastructure, letting you focus on your business. We are also experienced in supplying wholesale voice, data and ISP services to a wide range of UK and international carriers.
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Experienced senior management team |
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THUS has a strong, well-regarded management team with significant experience in the telecoms and Internet fields, as well as respected independent non-executive directors. Under the stewardship of CEO Bill Allan, the management team has delivered a strong operating and financial performance, and established an industry-leading service and network platform, favoured by many large organisations.
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Financial stability |
THUS has grown significantly as it has transitioned from a regional to a national, business-focused data and telecoms service provider in the UK. The group's revenue for continuing operations¹ has increased in each of the last six years from GBP241m for the year ended March 2003 to GBP576m for the year ended March 2008. EBITDA² for continuing operations grew 33% to GBP57m in 2008 (GBP42.9m in 2007) and THUS delivered its maiden operating profit of £4.0m in 2008.
Following an extensive evaluation of financing options the Group refinanced its existing bank facility in July 2007. The new five year facility has been provided by The Royal Bank of Scotland plc, acting as Underwriter and acting jointly with HBOS as Mandated Lead Arranger. The syndication of the facility was successfully completed and substantially oversubscribed. As a result, the original £100m facility was increased to £110m. The renegotiation of the facility on more favourable terms than the existing arrangements demonstrates the increased strength and capability of our business. Net debt was GBP31.9m at 31 March 2008 with net gearing³ of 6.9%.
¹ Continuing operations exclude Contact Centre, Interactive and Demon Netherlands.
² Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation (including impairment) and amortisation (EBITDA). EBITDA is stated before restructuring costs of GBP8.8m in 2006 and GBP1.6m in 2007.
³ Net gearing is net debt represented as a percentage of the total equity.
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History |
ScottishPower founded THUS plc in Scotland in November 1994 under the name Scottish Power Telecommunications Holdings Ltd. Scottish Power Telecommunications Holdings Ltd rebranded as THUS plc in October 1999 before floating on the London Stock Exchange in November 1999. THUS plc, which incorporates both the THUS and Demon brands, demerged from ScottishPower in March 2002 and created THUS Group plc. In February and March 2006 respectively, the company acquired Your Communications and Legend Communications, and in June 2006 the disposal of Demon Netherlands was completed.
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| Share price performance |
Use our charting tool to see how our shares have performed over time.
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| Our National Network |
THUS' next-generation telecommunications network runs the length and breadth of the UK.
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