Digital network roll-out

Bondholders CityFibre and Derby City Council are teaming up to bring next-generation digital connectivity to tenants.

Due to the access CityFibre is being provided by Derby City Council and Derby Homes, up to 13,000 council house tenants will now be given the opportunity to experience the benefits of the Gigabit-speed broadband network being rolled-out across Derby.

CityFibre will install full fibre to every property via a blanket wayleave agreement, ensuring the network build can go ahead smoothly and tenants can access the connectivity simply and without delay.

Full fibre digital networks, which provide connectivity at Gigabit speeds, are recognised to be the digital infrastructure of the future for homes and businesses. The UK Government is calling for 100% coverage across the country by 2025.

Access to full fibre will unlock many additional benefits. With near-unlimited bandwidth, full fibre will ensure households can utilise the latest smart home technology, stream entertainment across multiple devices and make it easier to work from home.

Dominika Walker, CityFibre’s City Manager for Derby, said: “Digital access is a major issue facing communities across the UK and we are committed to addressing the problem. This approach will make a genuine difference to thousands of people living in council housing in Derby, giving them access to transformative technology and ensuring they are not left behind when it comes to the digital revolution.”

Councillor Matthew Holmes, Deputy Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, added: “Derby City Council continues to work closely with the private sector to facilitate economic growth in the digital age and CityFibre’s full fibre network will be vital in ensuring Derby has a resilient and dynamic economy for decades to come. This approach will help us to reinforce our position as a smart city by making hi-tech digital infrastructure accessible for the benefit of communities across Derby.