£45m digital investment

Bondholder CityFibre has started work on transforming Derby into one of the world’s best digitally-connected cities.

As part of an initial £45m private investment from CityFibre, Derby will benefit from the state-of-the-art full fibre network roll-out. Construction work has officially commenced in the Mackworth area, with Abbey, Mickleover, Allestree and Darley set to follow later this year.

Dominika Walker, CityFibre’s City Manager for Derby, said: “The lockdown has demonstrated how essential a fast, reliable broadband service is for both businesses and residents. 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.”

As key workers, CityFibre has been asked by the UK Government to continue to expand the nation’s digital capacity. Construction work on Derby’s next-generation full fibre network is due to last up to five years, creating more than 100 construction jobs. The project will bring almost all residents and businesses in the city within reach of the future-proof network and gigabit-speed broadband services.

The company is using modern build techniques to deploy the network quickly, while working closely with fellow Bondholder Derby City Council and local communities to manage disruption and ensure a fast and successful roll-out.

According to research from economic consultancy Regeneris, full fibre connectivity will have a major impact in Derby over the next 15 years. It shows that up to £70m could be added to the value of local homes, while Smart City initiatives could add as much as £69m locally. Access to full fibre could also unlock £39m in business productivity and innovation, while a further £21m 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.

Councillor Matthew Holmes, Derby City Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transportation said: “Derby’s new fibre infrastructure will play an important part in our recovery plan and the benefits across every area of Derby will be huge. It’s one example of why Derby City Council continues to work closely with the private sector to facilitate economic growth. CityFibre’s full fibre network will be vital in ensuring Derby has a resilient and dynamic economy for years to come and will also boost productivity and restart growth after Covid-19.”

If residents are interested in full fibre broadband, they can pre-register interest with CityFibre and will receive information when services are available. To pre-register interest, visit: cityfibre.com/residential.

Business connectivity will be available from local service providers. To find out more or to connect your business, please go to wholesale.cityfibre.com/#enquiry-form.

To find out more about working at CityFibre and to apply for current job openings, visit cityfibre.com/careers.