Bath to enjoy boost of over £268m from CityFibre’s full fibre rollout

A new report commissioned by CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has identified that Bath stands to be a huge beneficiary from the rollout of future-proof 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 £22m investment in Bath will include £122m in productivity and innovation gains, £27m from a widened workforce, £5m in Local Authority efficiency savings and £141m in increased housing value.

Technological benefits are also a major focus of the report, which demonstrates that CityFibre’s network in Bath will help realise £291m gross added value (GVA) from 5G services, £82m from the Internet of Things and £51m from Smart City initiatives, like intelligent traffic management systems and street lighting.

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 Bath, working productivity uplifts are estimated to exceed £7m.

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

The UK stands to benefit from over £38billlion in potential economic benefits. 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.

Kathryn Askew Smith, Area Manager for Bath at CityFibre, said: “This report demonstrates just how powerful and essential full fibre is as a catalyst for growth and a platform for innovation and investment.

“Connectivity is so important, and it will make Bath more attractive as a place to live, work and visit. We’re extremely proud of our rollout here, and the investment we’re making in this city, and we look forward to seeing how it will benefit residents and businesses through the generations.”

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: https://cityfibre.com/homes