26 January 2021: Gloucester is celebrating a major milestone in its digital transformation today as work begins to extend its full fibre network to reach almost every home and business locally.
This £31m private investment from CityFibre will futureproof Gloucester’s digital infrastructure and provide residents and businesses with access to reliable, high speed and high-capacity connectivity.
According to research from economic consultancy Regeneris, full fibre connectivity will have a major impact on the UK economy over the next 15 years. It shows that up to £4.5bn in business productivity and innovation could be unlocked, while a further £2.3bn in growth could be driven from new business start-ups, with enhanced connectivity making it easier and less expensive to set up base and run efficiently.
Construction work has officially commenced in Podsmead, with the rest of the city set to follow. Kier Group is delivering the construction programme on CityFibre’s behalf, using modern build techniques to deploy the network quickly. The team is also working closely with CityFibre, Gloucester City Council and local communities to manage disruption and ensure a fast and successful roll-out. Meanwhile, residents are being kept informed by mailings ahead of works in their streets.
Neil Madle, CityFibre’s City Manager for Gloucester, said: “Gloucester’s digital future is just around the corner. With work now underway, that is something to be celebrated. Full Fibre broadband will help households access all the latest entertainment at lightning speed, but the benefits are far deeper than that – from enabling smart home technology to giving people the freedom to work from home with ease.
“The investment also comes at a critical time for Gloucester’s forward-thinking business community. Next generation Full Fibre connectivity can drive innovation and productivity, ultimately giving businesses the platform they need to realise their growth ambitions. And it won’t just improve business locally – it will also help businesses take their products or services to an international audience.”
Councillor Richard Cook, leader of Gloucester City Council, added: “I’m delighted that the work being done by CityFibre to make Gloucester a city fit for the future is set to get off the ground. It is particularly welcome with the multi-million-pound regeneration of Kings Quarter currently taking place. This will see the development of one of the largest digital quarters in the UK with The Forum, a vibrant new social and digital campus for the South West acting as a catalyst for an emerging digital and cyber security sector.”
Currently, fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) is available to less than 20 per cent of premises across the UK. It is revered as the best in connectivity for its speed, near unlimited bandwidth and reliability. By using fibre optic cables for every stage of the connection from the customer’s home or business to the Internet, users will be offered a significantly superior and more reliable broadband service, capable of Gigabit speeds (1,000 Mbps).
The full fibre network is not yet live, but once activated, services will be available from an increasing range of Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Residents interested in connecting to full fibre broadband can pre-register their interest at cityfibre.com/residential and they will receive information when services become available.
ENDS
Issued on behalf of CityFibre by Weber Shandwick. For more information or images, contact:
Dyan Owen at dowen@webershandwick.com or 07738 086 818
About CityFibre:
CityFibre is the UK’s third national digital infrastructure platform. With existing networks across the country, CityFibre provides wholesale connectivity to multiple business and consumer service providers, local authorities and mobile operators. |
