15 November 2013

A city-wide pure fibre optic network promises to deliver gigabit connectivity speeds to residents and businesses in Peterborough. The new infrastructure will be paid for by a wholly private investment of up to £30m by CityFibre.

The company, which claims to be the UK’s largest independent fibre optic infrastructure provider to smaller cities and towns, is currently considering investments to create ‘Gigabit cities’ in a number of locations across the country.

It says that a Gigabit city provides local businesses, carriers, ISPs and the public sector with access to a future-proof fibre infrastructure that will deliver substantial bandwidth capacity, an ultra-fast user experience, and significant cost and service advantages.

CityFibre says it selected Peterborough as part of its Gigabit cities vision because of its “attractive” high growth business, residential and public sector markets, as well as its “progressive and ambitious” local authority. It adds that Peterborough is one of the UK’s fastest growing cities with a record 1,400 SMEs launched in 2012.

Peterborough City Council has developed a framework agreement with CityFibre to meet strategic objectives in the delivery of gigabit speed services. CityFibre says it will be implementing the metro network to its own “high capacity” specification, offering internet connections with speeds of up to 1Gbps, approximately 40 times faster than current superfast broadband.

It will initially invest in more than 90km of fibre, ensuring the new network passes 80 per cent of Peterborough’s businesses.
CityFibre CEO Greg Mesch explains: “The first stage of our deployment will include the major commercial districts of the city, covering over 4,000 businesses, all of whom will benefit from gigabit level speeds and services. The second phase will bring that same level of speed to up to 60,000 homes, making Peterborough a truly Gigabit city.”