SOLIHULL SET TO ENJOY MAJOR ECONOMIC BOOST FROM CITYFIBRE’S FULL FIBRE ROLLOUT

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

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 £25m investment in Solihull will include £239m in productivity and innovation gains, £53m from a widened workforce, £11m in Local Authority efficiency savings and £192m in increased housing value.

Technological benefits are also a major focus of the report, which demonstrates that CityFibre’s network in Solihull will help unlock £568min gross value added (GVA) from 5G services, £147m from the Internet of Things and £101m from Smart City initiatives, such as 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 Solihull, flexible working productivity uplifts are estimated to reach £14m.

The UK, as a whole, stands to benefit from over £38bn in potential economic benefits. Productivity improvements and innovation are responsible for the largest impact, driving more than £22bn in GVA gainsnationwide. 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.

Bashir Ahmed, Area Manager for Solihull at CityFibre, said: “The report demonstrates just how powerful and essential our full fibre technology is. We are proud to be transforming Solihull’s digital capabilities through the installation of our full fibre network. The network will act as a catalyst for growth, and we’re excited to watch it boost innovation and investment opportunities in Solihull for decades to come.”

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.