CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has achieved a significant milestone by completing the primary-build of its full fibre network in Inverness. This achievement means that over 28,000 homes, accounting for more than 90% of the city’s residential properties, now have access to this state-of-the-art full fibre network.
The £24.5 million project, initiated in 2019, has seen the installation of over 400 kilometers of dense full fibre infrastructure across Inverness. Although the primary build is now complete, CityFibre’s efforts will continue to extend the network to additional areas, including properties on private or unadopted roads, new build sites, and business parks.
Residents and businesses in Inverness will now be able to enjoy affordable, gigabit-capable, and reliable full fibre broadband services from a variety of internet service providers (ISPs), including Vodafone, TalkTalk, BrawBand, Zen, Brillband, Zybre, and Giganet. For homes within the network’s coverage area, full fibre installations can be scheduled within just five working days of placing an order.
CityFibre’s investment in Inverness was facilitated through a public sector contract awarded via Capita as part of the Scotland-wide SWAN (Scottish Wide Area Network) program. This initiative has enabled the rollout of future-proof gigabit-capable full fibre infrastructure to various public sector facilities, including schools, libraries, offices, hospitals, health centers, and university campuses. In total, over 150 public sector sites across Inverness, Fort William, Thurso, and Wick have been connected.
A recent report conducted by consultancy firm Hatch, commissioned by CityFibre, outlines the substantial benefits that Inverness can expect from its new digital infrastructure platform. These benefits include over £100 million in productivity and innovation gains and an estimated £46 million increase in the value of local homes, attributed to vastly improved internet speed and reliability.
Allan McEwan, Area Manager at CityFibre, expressed excitement about the city’s digital connectivity transformation, stating that Inverness residents, businesses, and the city itself would reap the benefits for generations to come. He extended gratitude to the local community and key partners for their support throughout the rollout.
Drew Hendry, MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch, and Strathspey, celebrated the investment from CityFibre, emphasizing its role in encouraging competition, wider investment, and improved connectivity across the region.
Cllr Ken Gowans, Chair of the Economy & Infrastructure Committee at The Highland Council, highlighted the significance of the full fibre rollout for Inverness, noting that digital infrastructure has become a cornerstone of modern-day life and expressing excitement about the project’s future success.
