Aberdeen to enjoy economic boost thanks to CityFibre’s full fibre rollout

A new report commissioned by CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has identified that Aberdeen stands to be a huge beneficiary from the rollout of future-proof full fibre infrastructure which is now well underway across the city.

The study by the consultancy Hatch, (Economic Impact of Full Fibre Infrastructure from CityFibre’s Network), estimates that, over a fifteen-year period, the positive impacts of CityFibre’s £59m investment in Aberdeen will include £374m in productivity and innovation gains, £82m from a widened workforce, and £172m in increased housing value.

Technological benefits are also a major focus of the report, which demonstrates that CityFibre’s network in Aberdeen could help unlock £892m in GVA from 5G services, £178m from the Internet of Things and £158m from Smart City initiatives.

The continuing transition to home and flexible working, supported by full fibre access at home and in the office, is also unlocking access to a larger pool of labour for employers. In Aberdeen this widening of the workforce is expected to unleash £82m in GVA while flexible working productivity uplifts are estimated to exceed £1.2bn nationwide.

The direct impact of network construction is also identified as a major contributor of Aberdeen’s economic growth, creating network construction jobs within CityFibre’s build partners and supply chain. Wherever possible, new jobs are recruited locally to support the rollout. 

The UK, as a whole, stands to benefit from over £38bn in potential economic benefits, with more than £5bn of this being across CityFibre’s build in Scotland. Productivity improvements and innovation are responsible for the largest impact, driving more than £22bn in GVA gains nationwide. This is due to the positive effect that far faster and more reliable digital connectivity has been shown to have on business productivity and innovation, increasing turnover and contributing to the formation of new businesses and business models.

Allan McEwan Area Manager for Aberdeen at CityFibre, said: “CityFibre has been working since 2017 to deliver new digital infrastructure to Aberdeen, beginning with the roll out of a public network connecting its schools, libraries and other public buildings to our full fibre network. Since 2018, we have been working to bring our network to homes and businesses across the city.

“This report highlights our commitment to delivering economic and social benefits in Aberdeen. It shows the potential which robust full fibre digital infrastructure brings to supporting business growth and boosting the local economy. We are extremely proud of our work across Aberdeen and look forward to continuing to provide residents and businesses with access to the best connection available.”

Cllr Nicoll, Chair of Aberdeen City Region Deal Joint Committee, said: “It is fantastic to see the massive benefits which CityFibre’s work across the city will bring, we hope it will be a catalyst for growth across all sectors through this critical time of transition in the city. Full fibre connectivity is an objective of the Aberdeen City Region Deal and as such £2m was invested in connecting public sector sites that in return created the environment for this investment.

“More and more we are seeing the importance of connectivity across our lives, not just in our homes but also our public places, and this investment by CityFibre will grow Aberdeen’s digital infrastructure and help to ensure that we can embrace new technology. I very much look forward to sharing the full economic report at a future Joint Committee as this shows what is possible when public and private sector work together.”

The network is now live in Aberdeen, with services currently available from launch partner Vodafone, TalkTalk, Zen and Giganet and many other providers.

Residents interested in giving their home broadband a boost can find out more about the build and check whether services are live by visiting here.