Digging starts in Orton Southgate connecting businesses to Peterborough CORE

PETERBOROUGH crews have started digging in Orton Southgate - extending the network to give hundreds more businesses access to gigabit-speed internet connectivity. Work has started and is expected to take until the end of August, although the first connections will be live by mid August. The Peterborough network - a pure fibre network enabling firms to access ultra-fast internet speeds of up to a gigabit per second (100MBps) - is being extended to Orton Southgate. Companies in the business park campaigned for fibre and united to demonstrate there was enough demand for the service to persuade CityFibre to extend the 90km CORE to them. Andy Starnes, city development manager at CityFibre, said: "We're proud to support Peterborough's economy. Orton Southgate is one of the Peterborough’s largest commercial areas and now local businesses will have next-generation digital infrastructure to support their growth and development, keeping them a step ahead of the competition.” More than 100 Orton Southgate businesses registered their interest in gigabit speed internet connectivity as part of the ‘Gig Up Orton Southgate’ campaign. The campaign also received strong backing from the Yes2Fibre campaign, led by Lindsey Hall, managing director of EasyLifeIT, based in Orton Southgate. Lindsey said: "The promise is one thing, but having connected several clients to the Peterborough network now, we have seen for ourselves just what gigabit broadband really means.... and we're counting the days until we are connected. Orton Southgate has long deserved better, has been patient, and now has the option to choose the fastest broadband available in the UK." Marcus Lawday, managing director of Hawk AV, based in Culley Court, said: "It's great to see work has started to bring the Peterborough networkto Orton Southgate. It will make a significant difference to us as our studio is constantly sending camera rushes, edits and animations for our clients' approval. At the moment we're relying on satellite broadband services, so access to fibre will be very welcome. " Like other business parks outside the city centre, Orton Southgate was not on the original Peterborough network route, but has joined Fengate, Lynch Wood and Cygnet Park in demonstrating high levels of demand required to extend the network to reach them. To find out more and register your business, visit www.peterboroughcore.com. Follow us on Twitter @PboroCORE.