Aberdeen Eyes Broadband Boost from GBP250 Million City Deal

The UK Government has today signed a new City Deal, which will pump up to £250 million into Aberdeen (Scotland). Most of the investment will go towards propping up the city’s gas and oil industry, as well as expanding its harbour, although some will be used to further boost digital connectivity.

The exact details of how Aberdeen’s digital connectivity will be improved are not yet known, although the original plan said, “Major investment in digital infrastructure is required in the Aberdeen area to improve connectivity which can enable an acceleration in economic growth, stimulate innovation and retain and create employment in the region.”

Government Statement

The agreement will be Scotland’s second UK City Deal, following Glasgow’s arrangement agreed in 2014, and will again see equal funding committed by the UK and Scottish Governments.

The City Deal will address a number of proposals from the region including a new energy innovation centre, supporting the industry to exploit remaining North Sea reserves, as well towards the expansion of Aberdeen harbour, enabling the city to compete for decommissioning work.

The City Deal also sets out how the region will diversify the biopharmaceutical and agri-food industries, diversifying the area’s economy and creating new jobs and export opportunities, as well as commitments to improve digital connectivity across the area.

At present around 90% of Aberdeen should already be able to access a superfast broadband (24Mbps+) connection, albeit more via BT’s hybrid-fibre FTTC (VDSL2) network than Virgin Media’s faster cable infrastructure because the latter has almost no presence in the city.

On top of that Cityfibre has of course been busy expanding their 1000Mbps capable fibre optic broadband (FTTP) network in the area (Aberdeen Core), although that infrastructure is primarily focused upon connecting businesses and public sector sites.

However there’s clearly still a fair gap left to fill and that’s where some of the funding could help.