Neos Networks, Cornerstone and StonesThro power UK sovereign edge cloud | Computer Weekly

"Neos Networks has teamed with mobile infrastructure services firm Cornerstone to provide connectivity services to UK "microscaler" StonesThro to support distributed sovereign edge cloud infrastructure. Seeking to establish a difference between StonesThro and hyperscalers that centralise infrastructure in major datacentres, Neos noted that microscalers distribute cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) compute power to localised sites."

"By connecting these regional hubs into its national, business‑dedicated network, Neos assured that StonesThro and Cornerstone could serve users in key urban and industrial areas. The planned deployments will also use Cornerstone's national infrastructure footprint, enabling distributed cloud nodes to be deployed at scale."

"The partners believe that such a distributed model is already unlocking new capabilities for sectors where proximity is important for functionality, ranging from autonomous vehicles and large enterprises to local authorities and high-security sovereign software providers. Additionally, they say that for critical national infrastructure (CNI) customers handling sensitive data, the UK sovereign model offers an alternative to international cloud providers."

"In 2025, in partnership with Network Rail, Neos Networks announced Project Reach, claimed to be the biggest core fibre network deployment in decades. Neos' UK-wide network will support Cornerstone and StonesThro in delivering secure connectivity to CNI operators, such as those in the rail industry, which often require domestic infrastructure."

Neos Networks and Cornerstone will provide connectivity services to UK “microscaler” StonesThro to support distributed sovereign edge cloud infrastructure. The model differs from hyperscalers by distributing cloud and AI compute power to localized sites rather than centralizing it in major datacentres. Regional hubs will be connected through Neos’s national business-dedicated network, enabling service to users in key urban and industrial areas. Deployments will use Cornerstone’s national infrastructure footprint to deploy distributed cloud nodes at scale. The approach targets sectors where proximity matters, including autonomous vehicles, large enterprises, local authorities, and high-security sovereign software providers. For critical national infrastructure customers handling sensitive data, the UK sovereign model provides an alternative to international cloud providers. Neos also referenced Project Reach, a large core fibre network deployment with Network Rail, to support secure connectivity for CNI operators requiring domestic infrastructure.

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