Cityfibre Finally Starts Build of 1Gbps FTTP Broadband Network in Glasgow

After a long delay Cityfibre has today confirmed that their contractors have started to build Phase One of a new Gigabit capable fibre optic broadband (FTTP) network in the centre of Glasgow (Scotland), which will be connected up to an existing 31km long network in the city and serve local businesses.

Phase One of the network, which will be built over a period of 12 months and seeks to cover nearly 7,000 local businesses (plus a number of public sector sites, such as 7 hospitals), was originally due to begin during “early 2016“. However Cityfibre recently informed ISPreview.co.uk that this had to be delayed while they “prioritised the completion of our Edinburgh Gigabit City project” that had grown significantly in scale.

The good news is that Cityfibre’s network in Edinburgh has now been largely completed and as a result the operator is switching their focus back to Glasgow, which is supported by local ISP partner HighNet. Apparently the work has already commenced on Ingram Street, Renfrew Street and Douglas Street.

James McClafferty, CityFibre’s Head of Regional Development in Scotland, said:

“It is great to see our Gigabit City network now reaching the heart of Glasgow. Pure fibre connectivity and ultra-fast internet services are already changing the way thousands of businesses operate nationwide and now Glasgow’s business community will benefit too.

A Gigabit City network will help support the city’s growing demand for data, boost competitiveness and create new opportunities for digital entrepreneurs. The rise of digital is really transforming the way we live and work, but to keep up with trends and maintain Glasgow’s profile on the world stage, we need the infrastructure to match.”

George Redmond, Glasgow Councillor, added:

“This is a key development for Glasgow, with the greater network capacity and speeds that will come from this delivering great benefits for people and organisations all across the city. We have made great strides in smart systems in Glasgow in recent years, and this will help us maintain our competitive edge.”

Eventually it’s hoped that the network may be able to expand its coverage to reach 15,000 local businesses, but for now they’re focused on the first phase of the roll-out. The first businesses are expected to go live on the new network from early 2017

CityFibre is currently in the process of “completing” Gigabit City projects in 19 cities around the United Kingdom, such as Aberdeen and Edinburgh. The operator aims to reach as many as 50 cities by 2020, which is only possible because of last year’s £90m deal to acquire KCOM’s UK network assets (here).