CityFibre says its fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) partnership with service provider Vodafone UK will now provide a city-wide roll-out of full fiber infrastructure to the city of Peterborough, making it the third city to receive full fiber under the strategic partnership (see "Vodafone chooses CityFibre FTTP network for UK broadband delivery"). The partnership builds on CityFibre's plans to extend its reach to approximately 12 cities and 1 million homes in the UK with an open-access fiber-optic broadband network by 2021 (see "CityFibre plans to raise £200 million for FTTH projects, acquisition").
CityFibre says it will invest a minimum of £30 million in the infrastructure project, expanding its fiber-optic network to almost every home and business in the city, starting in May 2018. According to CityFibre, Vodafone will use the network to provide 1-Gbps broadband at all stages of connection, from a customer’s home or workplace to the Internet, by early 2019.
Peterborough currently uses the arterial fiber-optic network that CityFibre built in 2013. Many businesses, schools, council offices, and the main hospital currently have full fiber access, and expansion will bring fiber within reach of thousands more, says CityFibre.
According to 2014 figures from the Fibre to the Home Council, a 1.1% rise in annual GDP could result from bringing full fiber to even half of all premises. The city-wide fiber roll-out could lead to over £700 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) in Peterborough over the next 15 years.
Economic development consultancy Regeneris recently published a study examining the potential impact full fiber access can have on the economy in 100 towns and cities over a 15-year period. The report identified the potential for up to £55 million in GVA in Peterborough’s business productivity and new market access. Peterborough homeowners and the broader property market can also expect as much as £45 million to be added to homes’ values in the city as a result of high-speed broadband and its appeal to buyers, the report suggests.
With 5G roll-out on the horizon, full fiber could lay the foundation for nearly £293 million in Peterborough’s economic growth over the next 15 years. The study suggests that the Internet of Things and Industry 4.0 could drive as much as £106 million in "smart city" initiatives.
Residents and businesses in Peterborough can pre-register for the Vodafone service at www.vodafone.co.uk/broadband/ultrafast.
"We welcome CityFibre and Vodafone’s decision to choose Peterborough as one of the first cities in their fiber-to-the-premises roll-out," said John Holdich OBE, Peterborough City Council leader. "Peterborough City Council has worked closely with CityFibre for years to develop and expand the reach of their full fiber network. It has become a platform for our Smart City initiatives, helps us attract businesses and develop our emerging tech sector. With this extension of the project, the full benefits will soon be felt by everyone who lives and works in the city."
Earlier this year, Aberdeen became the first city in Scotland to receive gigabit-speed broadband access city-wide through CityFibre’s partnership with Vodafone (see "CityFibre and Vodafone partner for first city-wide FTTP program in Scotland").
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