ITS awarded contract to deliver full fibre to power Deep Green’s ‘lighthouse’ data centre

ITS has been chosen as the full fibre infrastructure provider for Deep Green’s flagship data centre, currently under development in Urmston, Greater Manchester.

Based next to move Urmston Leisure Centre, the data centre known as DG01, is a ‘lighthouse’ project in Deep Green’s UK roadmap. It will showcase an innovative model, combining high-performance compute capabilities with local infrastructure, harnessing heat energy that can be reused for the public good.

It creates a blueprint for Deep Green’s compact, sustainable data centres nationwide.

DG01 will capture up to 96% of the heat produced by its servers and equipment, using it to warm move Urmston’s swimming pool water. It is estimated that this will cut the leisure centre’s carbon dioxide emissions by 150 tonnes each year annually, and it is estimated that this will save up to £80,000 in energy costs. The waste heat could also be used in the future to benefit other local businesses, industrial processes, and public spaces.

Designed for high density workloads, including high performance compute and AI, DG01 will support hardware (servers and processors) that can draw 400 kW of power within a 240m2 footprint, supporting up to 100 kW per rack.

ITS’s established full fibre footprint across Urmston will enable the fast delivery of connections linking the data centre to businesses that choose to co-locate there. And it was the regional presence that was a key factor in Deep Green’s decision to select ITS as its connectivity partner.

Dave Ferry, Chief Sales Officer at ITS, said:

“DG01 is one of the most innovative data centre blueprints in the UK, and it demands digital infrastructure that can match its ambition. Our network will provide the platform that AI and high-performance computing require, while also being a very exciting addition to our substantial data centre footprint across our national network. As we already serve Urmston, we can move quickly to install with minimal disruption. Through DG01, businesses will thrive, advanced workloads will run at full potential, and technology will deliver measurable social and environmental value.”

Mark Lee, CEO of Deep Green, said:

“ITS has been engaged with us from the very beginning of the design process, ensuring our objectives were fully understood and building a genuine culture of partnership. As a B2B specialist with a proven network across Greater Manchester and competitively priced services, ITS are committed to go to market alongside us to help deliver this project. Their full fibre infrastructure gives us the speed and reliability our partners and their clients demand. Our mission is to prove that data centres don’t have to cost the earth – in either environmental or financial terms.”

Cllr Tom Ross, Leader of Trafford Council and Greater Manchester’s Green City Region portfolio holder, said:

“This is a great example of how public and private sectors can work together to create real change. ITS invested in rolling out a high-capacity full fibre network across Urmston several years ago to meet growing local business demand for high speed services, and this partnership with Deep Green shows how that investment continues to deliver new value. Not only will this development benefit our community directly, it will also play a vital role in achieving our 2038 net-zero target and delivering on Greater Manchester’s Five-Year Environment Plan, creating a ripple effect of benefits for our citizens.”

Jo Cherrett, CEO of Trafford Leisure, a community interest company wholly owned by Trafford Council, which manages leisure in Trafford on behalf of the council, said:

“Operating some of the most energy-intensive public facilities means we have a responsibility to look for smarter, greener ways to meet our community’s needs. DG01 is a perfect example of how innovation in one sector can transform outcomes in another. Thanks to the robust full fibre infrastructure being delivered by ITS, the data centre will have the always-on connectivity it needs to serve businesses, while its design will capture and reuse heat for our pool and facilities. The reduction in our energy costs and carbon footprint will allow us to reinvest those savings directly into improving services, programmes, and accessibility for local residents. For us, this is a beacon for what sustainable public leisure can look like.”

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Dave Ferry
Chief Sales Officer

As Chief Sales Officer, Dave leads the sales strategy at ITS, driving growth and strengthening customer relationships. Overseeing commercial success across Partner Markets, Public Sector and Major Business, Dave uses his 20 years of telecoms experience to build high-performing teams and deliver innovative solutions that meet market demands.

Previously, Dave held senior roles at Virgin Media Business, leading successful teams in various market segments.

Kevin McNulty
Strategy Director

Kevin leads the Strategy team in ITS, comprising the core functions of network Investment (including M&A), regulation, public affairs, product management and marketing. With over 4 years’ experience within the leadership team of ITS, Kevin has played a pivotal role in shaping the business direction as it has grown to be a leading provider of B2B wholesale connectivity.

Prior to ITS, Kevin has a long background in the industry, having held senior positions in BT, Virgin Media, KCOM and NTT – as well as a period spent in consultancy.

Claire Davies
People & Culture Director

Claire is the People and Culture Director for ITS, responsible for ensuring we provide a great place to work, with amazing people who are happy, productive, and engaged.

A CIPD qualified HR professional with previous industry experience at Amey, as well as more recent experience in a number of small businesses, Claire is passionate about putting people first in order to grow the business.

Mike Goodwin
Chief Technology Officer

Mike is responsible for all technical, operations, customer service and security within ITS. Using his degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, and MBA from Manchester Business School, Mike focuses on how ITS can introduce and support complex solutions designed to create customer-focused teams that ensure exceptional experience. On top of his extensive career history spanning TalkTalk, Hyperoptic and Fibre Nation, Mike is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the IET.

Charlie Versi
Chief Operating Officer

Charlie leads ITS’s end-to-end operational delivery, with a focus on service excellence and delivering an outstanding experience for both partners and their business customers. His appointment will help build on the company’s strong foundations – driving transformation, quality, and innovation and using them as key enablers of continued growth.

Daren Baythorpe
Chief Executive Officer

Daren is a dynamic leader who drives the strategy, growth and direction of ITS. Daren has significant utility / telecoms sector experience and has held several board-level leadership and advisory positions for a number of organisations including Severn Trent Water and BT. He served on the Board of Openreach, where he held executive responsibilities as Director of the Customer Service Division, Director for Field Engineering then latterly serving as Managing Director of the Business Division.

Daren also regularly advises and collaborates with government and other regulatory / telecoms bodies on sector-related issues. His in-depth knowledge and understanding of the requirements of operators and high capacity data users, through his vast experience across the industry, mean that ITS is thriving under his leadership

Kevin Gaskell
Chairman

Kevin leads our board and is responsible for giving strategic advice and counsel, as well as attracting and driving investment. Kevin is recognised as one of the most successful leaders of his generation, having led iconic brands such as Porsche, Lamborghini and BMW. A highly experienced serial entrepreneur and private equity chairman, he has led multi-billion-pound global organisations; and also founded startups such as Epyx Limited, building it up to become the market leader for automotive e-commerce solutions.

Kevin has received multiple accolades; highlights include making the ‘UK’s top 40 leaders under 40’ list, chairing the ‘best UK private equity investment of the year’, and being a founder of award-winning start-up companies across the globe.