Huddersfield has begun a £30 million full fibre network expansion.
CityFibre are providing the expansion, said the project will make the town one of the most digitally connected towns on the planet.
The new infrastructure will allow both residents and businesses to enjoy unlimited bandwidth and internet speeds of up to 1000Mbps.
The company has been supporting Huddersfield’s digital transformation since 2014, when it launched a new, independent 52km fibre network providing full fibre connectivity to 176 public sector sites and the town’s business population.
By using fibre optic cables rather than copper cables from the customer’s business or home to the internet, users can experience a significantly superior and more reliable broadband service, the company said.
“Through a thriving creative and digital culture, coupled with a world-renowned reputation for manufacturing and innovation, Huddersfield has so much to gain from fresh investment in its broadband infrastructure,” said Steve Moore, CityFibre’s City Development Manager for Huddersfield.
“For instance, recent research estimates that over the next 15 years, the roll-out of full fibre could unlock £18m in business productivity and innovation, and £11m from new start-up activity.”
The latest project, delivered in partnership with Vodafone, marks a further £30m investment from CityFibre, providing residents with access to gigabit speed connectivity for the very first time.
CityFibre’s objective is to bring full fibre infrastructure to 5 million UK homes and businesses by 2025, representing a third of the UK Government’s target of 15m homes by 2025.
“We welcome this investment in the District, which will bring first-class digital infrastructure to Huddersfield residents and future proof its digital connectivity,” said Councillor Peter McBride at Kirklees Council.
“The Council continues to work closely with the private sector to facilitate investment in high-speed connectivity across the district. Digital infrastructure is vital – it is part of our economic strategy to ensure we remain a resilient, future-proofed district that is fully able to take advantage of technology.”