‘Project Gigabit' work begins in Leicestershire and Warwickshire to connect rural areas to full fibre

CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has begun work to connect more than 45,000 homes and businesses across hard-to-reach areas of Leicestershire and Warwickshire to next generation, full fibre broadband as part of the government’s Project Gigabit. 

The rollout in Leicestershire and Warwickshire was made possible by the £77m Project Gigabit award to CityFibre. Project Gigabit is the government-funded programme enabling hard-to-reach communities access fast, reliable gigabit-capable broadband, reaching parts of the UK that might otherwise miss out on upgrades to next-generation speeds.

CityFibre is also contributing its own investment to deliver the project and reach even more homes and businesses in the area. CityFibre’s ‘Project Gigabit’ rollouts are part of the company’s commitment to reach at least 8 million premises nationwide.

The 45,000 homes and businesses across hard-to-reach areas of Leicestershire and Warwickshire will have access to full fibre broadband for the first time and this rollout marks the seventh of nine Project Gigabit delivery contracts secured by CityFibre, with the first Project Gigabit customers already connected in Cambridge, Norfolk and Suffolk.  

CityFibre’s network provides residents and businesses with access to a wide range of Internet Service Providers, including well-known brands like Vodafone, TalkTalk and Zen as well as a number of exciting new providers. Sky’s Full Fibre Broadband will also become available on CityFibre’s full fibre network from next year. 

Built using gold-standard XGS-PON technology, capable of supporting speeds of up to 10Gbps, CityFibre’s full fibre network will enable its current and future ISP partners to serve customers with far faster and more reliable broadband services than the legacy copper-based network currently available in the build areas. 

Throughout the build, CityFibre will work closely with local stakeholders to ensure disruption is minimised and that the build is managed safely and efficiently. Residents and local businesses will be contacted ahead of any work starting. 

Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant said: “Families and businesses across Leicestershire and Warwickshire will soon be reaping the benefits of lightning-fast broadband.

“Thanks to this government-backed project, we are not only giving rural communities the infrastructure they need to thrive in today’s digital world, but enabling students to engage in online learning, improving access to quality healthcare, and securing more jobs in the area."

Greg Mesch, Chief Executive Officer at CityFibre, said: “Helping hard-to-reach homes and businesses across Leicestershire and Warwickshire to access full fibre will enable residents to stay and thrive within their communities by unlocking new possibilities. Leaving behind the limitations of copper technology and improving vital infrastructure will provide a significant boost for the local economy, making the regions among the best connected in the country.” 

Full fibre networks use 100% fibre optic technology to carry data at light speed all the way to the home or business, offering near limitless bandwidth and reliable connectivity.  People interested in upgrading to full fibre can find out more about the build, pre-register their interest and ensure they are updated on service availability at: www.cityfibre.com