A £31 million private investment in digital infrastructure in Gloucester by CityFibre will bring superfast broadband to the city’s homes and businesses.
The London-based company has started work to extend a full-fibre network across Gloucester, with the aim of putting every house and business within touching distance of fast, reliable broadband.
Construction work has begun in Podsmead, just south of the city centre, with the rest of Gloucester to follow.
Neil Madle, CityFibre’s city manager for Gloucester, said: ‘Next generation full fibre connectivity can drive innovation and productivity, ultimately giving businesses theplatform they need to realise their growth ambitions.’
Mark Boyce, managing director of Gloucester-based Utility Customer Services Management Ltd, said: ‘CityFibre’s focus on Gloucester should provide opportunity and benefit for the businesses and people of the city.’
Councillor Richard Cook, leader of Gloucester City Council, said he was ‘delighted’ the work was underway.
‘It is particularly welcome with the multi-million-pound regeneration of Kings Quarter currently taking place,’ said Mr Cook.
‘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.’
It was Gloucestershire-based Bamboo Technology Group Ltd that first introduced CityFibre to the county, partnering with the infrastructure provider in 2017 to kickstart the now county-wide project in Cheltenham.
By using fibre optic cables for every stage of the connection from the customer’s home or business to the Internet, users should be able to benefit from ‘significantly superior and more reliable broadband service’, capable of Gigabit speeds (1,000 Mbps).
No date has been announced for the completion of the work, but CityFibre said it would be working with the city council to keep residents and business informed and was aiming for ‘a fast and successful roll-out’.
Once activated the new network will be available from a range of Internet Service Providers.
By Andrew Merrell
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