CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has started its mission in Loughborough with a substantial £17 million investment to upgrade the town’s digital infrastructure. The project aims to provide fast, reliable, and future-proof full fibre network connectivity to nearly every home and business in Loughborough, ensuring the town’s data needs are met for years to come.
Construction is already underway in the Storer and Garendon areas of the town, facilitated by Granemore Group, the local implementation partner. Close collaboration between Granemore Group, CityFibre, Leicestershire County Council, and Charnwood Borough Council ensures efficient and safe management of any potential disruptions. Typically, construction teams will work in each area for short periods, minimizing inconvenience to residents.
The ambitious project is scheduled for completion in early 2024, with the first services expected to go live sooner. James Cushing, CityFibre’s Area Manager for Loughborough, expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, highlighting the importance of fast and reliable connectivity in the digital age. He emphasized that this digital infrastructure upgrade will provide Loughborough with the foundations to thrive today and into the future.
Full fibre networks, unlike conventional copper-based ‘fibre broadband’ services, utilize 100% fibre optics to transmit data at lightning speed from homes to the point of connection. This technology delivers impressive speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps for both uploads and downloads, virtually limitless bandwidth, and dependable connectivity.
Beyond delivering lightning-fast entertainment options, a full fibre connection promises to benefit households and businesses alike. Experts anticipate a range of economic advantages, including increased productivity and innovation.
Jane Hunt, MP for Loughborough, welcomed this significant investment in full fibre broadband as part of her broader vision for the community. She emphasized that accessible and affordable broadband for all communities is crucial, and this investment is expected to enhance productivity and innovation for local businesses. It is anticipated to unlock substantial economic potential and opportunities for Loughborough, introducing choice and competition for residents and businesses while significantly improving connectivity.
When the new network becomes operational in Loughborough, customers will gain access to full fibre-enabled services through various providers. These include CityFibre’s UK launch partner, Vodafone, available on selected Vodafone Pro Broadband plans, along with TalkTalk, Zen, Giganet, and IDNet. Additional providers are expected to join the network in the near future, further enhancing connectivity options for residents and businesses.
