Teesside set for digital boost as CityFibre announces £32m Full Fibre rollout

CityFibre, the UK’s largest independent full fibre platform, has named Hartlepool and Redcar as the next UK towns in line for a multi-million-investment in their digital infrastructure. With CityFibre full fibre build already underway in Middlesbrough, this move will see the Tees Valley become one of the best-connected regions in the UK.

Nationally, CityFibre is building new and better digital infrastructure for up to 8 million homes and businesses through its up to £4bn Gigabit City Investment Programme. It is set to invest £32m in a new network across both Redcar and Hartlepool that will bring full fibre connectivity – the best technology for the job – within reach of every home and business.

A full fibre connection goes far beyond simply enabling access to the latest entertainment at lightning speed. As an essential digital utility, full fibre boosts households and businesses alike, driving a range of economic benefits by providing near limitless bandwidth and ultra-reliable connections. Full fibre networks enable increased business productivity, underpin economic growth and unlock the smart transformation of local services making this project a key infrastructure element in the drive to level up the region.

Showing their support for the project, Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, and Hartlepool MP, Jill Mortimer, met today with City Manager Steph Carter-Smith who will lead the delivery of the project across the region.

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, commented: “I’m delighted CityFibre is investing tens of millions of pounds as part of their plans to deliver full fibre broadband to local people and businesses across the Tees Valley. It’s more important than ever that we deliver the digital infrastructure that local people rightfully demand.


“This investment is not just important so that local people can enjoy reliable, high-speed broadband at home, it’s also crucial for unlocking the full potential of small and medium sized businesses that are the lifeblood of our economy, meaning more good-quality, well paid jobs for local people.”

Jill Mortimer MP, Member of Parliament for Hartlepool, said: “I welcome CityFibre’s fantastic investment into our town. Full fibre is essential in attracting investment and ensuring both businesses and the people of Hartlepool and the wider region have access to a reliable internet service.”

Construction work on the full fibre network will begin in early 2022 across both locations, beginning with Hartlepool. As work is completed in each neighbourhood, internet service providers (ISPs) will ‘lights up the network’ with some of the fastest and most competitive broadband packages available in terms of both data and price.

Steph Carter-Smith, City Manager for Hartlepool, Middlesbrough and Redcar said: “This is an exciting time for the region as our teams get set to begin work on our transformative Full Fibre network – and we think people will be blown away by the difference it will make, both now and for generations to come. We cannot wait for residents and businesses to see what is possible with digital connectivity that propels you forward, rather than holding you back.”

In the region, services will be available from an increasing range of broadband providers. Across the UK, CityFibre is already working with launch partner Vodafone to supply full fibre infrastructure for customers on selected Vodafone Pro Broadband plans, TalkTalk and Zen, with other providers expected to join the network in the future.

Residents interested in giving their home broadband a boost can find out more about the build and register their interest at www.cityfibre.com/PR-Register