ETS Connect UK Announces Accredited Partner Programme to Deliver Integrated Client Support for the UK Bond Consolidated Tape

WHY THIS MATTERS

The announcement by ETS Connect UK to launch an “Accredited Partner” ecosystem marks a significant shift in the operational strategy for the UK’s new bond Consolidated Tape (CT). Historically, core market infrastructures like a CTP (Consolidated Tape Provider) have been viewed as monolithic silos that manage both data distribution and technical support. By decoupling these functions, ETS Connect is establishing a “neutral utility” model where the core engine focuses on aggregating real-time bond data while a dynamic marketplace of third-party providers delivers the localized, high-touch support that complex trading desks require.

This evolution is critical for market readiness ahead of the formal 2027 launch. For participants, it means the end of a “one-size-fits-all” support model; firms can now choose partners that offer specialized technical assistance, integrated service offerings, or extended 24/5 hours. By removing the previously planned out‑of‑hours support fees and providing “bridge” support through late 2026 at no extra cost, ETS Connect is lowering the barrier for entry, ensuring that the transition from a fragmented data landscape to a single, authoritative UK bond tape is seamless and cost-effective.

Framework creates an open ecosystem for client support.

ETS Connect UK today announced an evolution of the support model for the UK bond Consolidated Tape (CT), announcing an open ecosystem that enables third-party providers to deliver enhanced support services to market participants. 

Creating a dynamic support ecosystem

The Accredited Partner programme enables commercial providers to offer value-added support services tailored to the needs of different user groups. This includes the potential for extended hours support, specialist technical assistance, and integrated service offerings. 

The model is designed to: 

• Promote competition and innovation in support services
• Provide users with choice and flexibility in how they access support
• Leverage existing industry capabilities and infrastructure
• Support scalability as the market evolves

Maintaining neutrality of core infrastructure

The separation of core operations from commercial support services reinforces the role of the CTP as a neutral market infrastructure. Accredited partners will be subject to objective and proportionate eligibility criteria, aligned with broader regulatory principles of openness and competition. 

Next steps

To support industry readiness, ETS Connect UK has set out the following planned milestones for implementation: 

• 26 May 2026 – Draft accreditation terms and technical specifications published 
• 6 July 2026 – Final terms and specifications published and applications open
• 7 December 2026 – Accredited Partners enabled for production access
• 4 January 2027 – Formal start of support programme 

ETS Connect UK will engage with users and prospective partners throughout 2026 to support industry readiness and a smooth transition to the Accredited Partner model.  

ETS Connect UK will provide out‑of‑hours support, offered 24/5, from the launch of the CT throughout the remainder of 2026 to facilitate an orderly transition to the January 2027 launch of the Accredited Partner programme, at no additional cost for license holders. Previously published out‑of‑hours support fees will not be implemented. 

ETS Connect UK is a subsidiary of Etrading Software Ltd, which has been awarded the mandate for operating the UK bond CT. Etrading Software is a financial technology company focused on providing market participants with robust, transparent, and cost-effective market infrastructure solutions. The company specialises in the design and operation of mission-critical platforms across asset classes, supporting global regulatory initiatives and promoting industry-wide collaboration.

FF NEWS TAKE

The move to an open ecosystem is a tactical masterstroke by Etrading Software (ETS), positioning its subsidiary as a facilitator of innovation rather than just a data vendor. By inviting commercial providers to compete on support services, ETS is leveraging the existing technical expertise within the UK’s fintech community to scale the CTP’s reach. This “platform-as-a-service” approach reduces the operational overhead for the CTP itself while ensuring that the infrastructure remains robust enough to handle the mission-critical demands of the fixed income market.

However, the real test of this model will be the rigor of the “Accredited Partner” eligibility criteria. To maintain the tape’s status as a neutral and reliable market utility, ETS must ensure that third-party support doesn’t introduce fragmented service levels or security vulnerabilities into the ecosystem. As the FCA continues to defend legal challenges to the CTP mandate, this transparent and competitive support model serves as a strong defense of ETS’s commitment to “Reasonable Commercial Basis” and industry-wide collaboration. The 2026 roadmap—starting with draft terms on May 26—will be the definitive guide for vendors looking to become the “certified mechanics” of the UK’s most important new piece of financial plumbing.