SD-WAN · UK Fibre · B2B Only
Neos Networks SD-WAN Review
Neos Networks is a UK-dedicated business fibre and connectivity provider, operating a 34,000km UK-wide fibre network spanning 550+ exchanges as Critical National Infrastructure. It is a dedicated B2B provider — its network is not shared with consumers — serving enterprise, financial services, energy and utilities, transport and logistics, public sector, and Critical National Infrastructure organisations. Neos Networks SD-WAN is powered by the HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect platform, offering centralised orchestration, Dynamic Path Control, direct cloud access, and SASE integration with leading providers including Zscaler, Netskope, and Palo Alto Networks. Neos Networks is listed on the Crown Commercial Service G-Cloud framework and the NS3 framework for UK public sector access.
Quick Facts — Neos Networks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full company name | Neos Networks Limited |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
| Founded | Founded as part of SSE Enterprise Telecoms; rebranded Neos Networks |
| Primary product | Neos Networks SD-WAN (HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect); Dark Fibre; Business Ethernet; Cloud Connect; DIA; Colocation |
| Architecture | Managed SD-WAN via HPE Aruba EdgeConnect; delivered on Neos Networks' own UK fibre infrastructure; SASE integration with Zscaler, Netskope, Palo Alto Networks |
| UK network | 34,000km fibre; 550+ exchanges; end-to-end managed service with 24/7 UK-based NOC |
| UK presence | UK-only — Neos Networks is exclusively a UK B2B provider; does not operate outside the UK |
| SASE capability | Partial — SD-WAN with SASE integration options (Zscaler, Netskope, Palo Alto Networks) but no native SASE SSE platform |
| SD-WAN capability | Full — HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect; Dynamic Path Control; zero-touch provisioning; direct cloud access (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) |
| Target market | UK enterprise; financial services; energy and utilities; transport and logistics; Critical National Infrastructure; public sector |
| UK channel | Direct B2B enterprise sales; 24/7 UK-based NOC; dedicated account management |
| Gartner position | Not evaluated in Gartner MQ (UK-only specialist provider, not a global WAN services provider) |
What Netify Thinks
Neos Networks occupies a genuinely distinctive position in the UK SD-WAN market: it is the only dedicated B2B fibre provider with a 34,000km UK-owned network delivering SD-WAN as a managed service. Unlike national carriers (BT, Virgin Media Business) that share infrastructure with consumer traffic, Neos Networks' network is business-dedicated, designed for Critical National Infrastructure-grade resilience and performance.
Strengths
- Business-dedicated UK fibre: Neos Networks' 34,000km fibre network is exclusively B2B — no consumer traffic sharing. This provides a performance and reliability foundation that national broadband carriers cannot match for organisations where network quality is business-critical.
- Critical National Infrastructure provider: Neos Networks serves CNI organisations including energy and utilities, water, emergency services, and defence sectors. This CNI heritage reflects both the resilience standards of its network and its experience with organisations that cannot tolerate connectivity compromise.
- HPE Aruba EdgeConnect — technically mature platform: Deploying HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect provides access to a Gartner MQ-recognised, enterprise-grade SD-WAN platform with Dynamic Path Control, WAN optimisation, zero-touch provisioning, and direct cloud access to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.
- UK public sector framework access: Neos Networks is listed on Crown Commercial Service G-Cloud and the NS3 (Network Services 3) framework for UK public sector organisations, enabling faster procurement for central government departments, local authorities, NHS, emergency services, and charities.
- SASE partner flexibility: Neos Networks integrates with Zscaler, Netskope, and Palo Alto Networks for SASE/SSE, allowing enterprise customers to choose the security platform that fits their existing stack rather than being locked into a Neos-proprietary security approach.
Weaknesses
- UK-only: Neos Networks operates exclusively in the UK. Multinational organisations with international sites must source separate connectivity and SD-WAN management for non-UK locations. Neos Networks can complement a global managed service for UK sites, but cannot be a single global WAN provider.
- No native SSE or SASE platform: Neos Networks provides SASE through integrations with third-party SSE vendors rather than offering its own native SASE product. Organisations wanting a deeply converged single-vendor SASE experience should evaluate dedicated SASE vendors.
- Not in Gartner MQ: As a UK-only specialist, Neos Networks is not evaluated in any global Gartner Magic Quadrant for SD-WAN, SASE, or WAN Services. This limits visibility in global procurement processes.
- Smaller commercial scale: Neos Networks is a significantly smaller organisation than BT, Virgin Media Business, or Colt. For very large enterprise deployments requiring global managed service scale, financial stability due diligence and careful SLA assessment are advisable.
Verdict: Neos Networks is best suited to UK enterprise and public sector organisations — particularly in financial services, energy, utilities, transport, and Critical National Infrastructure — that need a business-dedicated, UK-fibre-backed managed SD-WAN with CNI-grade resilience and UK public sector framework procurement access. It is not suitable as a sole provider for multinational WAN estates.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Business-dedicated UK fibre (34,000km, 550+ exchanges) — no consumer traffic sharing
- Critical National Infrastructure provider heritage — CNI-grade resilience standards
- HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect — Gartner MQ-recognised SD-WAN platform
- Crown Commercial Service G-Cloud and NS3 framework listed — fast public sector procurement
- SASE partner flexibility: Zscaler, Netskope, Palo Alto Networks integrations
- 24/7 UK-based NOC and dedicated account management
Cons
- UK-only — not suitable as a sole provider for multinational WAN estates
- No native SSE or SASE platform — SASE delivered through third-party integrations
- Not in Gartner MQ (UK-only specialist)
- Smaller scale than national carriers — financial stability due diligence recommended for large contracts
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Neos Networks?
Neos Networks is a UK-dedicated business fibre and connectivity provider operating a 34,000km UK-wide fibre network across 550+ exchanges. It serves as Critical National Infrastructure in the UK, providing exclusively B2B connectivity. Its SD-WAN service is powered by HPE Aruba Networking EdgeConnect and integrates with Zscaler, Netskope, and Palo Alto Networks for SASE capabilities. Neos Networks is listed on Crown Commercial Service frameworks for UK public sector procurement.
How much does Neos Networks SD-WAN cost?
Neos Networks does not publish standard SD-WAN pricing. Costs are scoped per engagement based on the number of sites, bandwidth requirements, connectivity type (Ethernet, Fibre, DIA), and managed service scope. As a specialist UK B2B provider, Neos Networks' pricing is typically positioned to compete with the UK-focused offerings of BT Business and Virgin Media Business. UK enterprise and public sector organisations should contact Neos Networks' sales team directly for a scoped proposal.
Is Neos Networks suitable for UK public sector deployments?
Yes — Neos Networks is particularly well-suited to UK public sector deployments. It is listed on the Crown Commercial Service G-Cloud framework for cloud services and the NS3 (Network Services 3) framework for inter-site connectivity, enabling central government departments, local authorities, NHS, emergency services, social housing providers, and 168,000 registered charities to access Neos Networks' full suite of connectivity services including SD-WAN. The NS3 framework listing was achieved alongside Neos Networks' existing public sector customer portfolio.
How does Neos Networks differ from BT Business for UK SD-WAN?
Both are UK connectivity providers with owned network infrastructure, but with meaningful differences. BT Business operates the UK's largest fixed-line network (shared with consumer traffic) with the highest PoP density, security-cleared engineering staff, and EE 4G/5G integration. Neos Networks operates an exclusively B2B fibre network (not shared with consumers), which can provide better performance consistency for organisations in locations where Neos is on-net. Neos Networks may be more appropriate for financial services, energy, utilities, and CNI organisations where business-dedicated infrastructure is a requirement; BT is typically stronger for central government, MOD, and organisations requiring SC-cleared engineers.
Include Neos Networks in your SASE RFP
Use the Netify RFP Builder to build a structured, vendor-neutral SASE RFP and receive competitive bids.
Build Your SASE RFP