17 Public Sites in Greater Manchester Get Free Fibre Broadband Until 2025

The £23.8m deployment by Virgin Media Business (VMO2) of a new 2,700km long “full fibre” network in Greater Manchester, which is designed to connect over 1,500 public sector sites, has also resulted in 17 public sites – including homeless shelters, charities and community centres – benefiting from free fibre broadband until 2025.

Just to recap. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) chose VMB for their Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) project in March 2020 (here), with the aim being to connect 1,500 public service sites in Bury, Bolton, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Trafford and Wigan. Plus, 180 public sites in Salford and Manchester would also benefit. Around 97% of the new infrastructure has been provided via existing ducting.

We reported over a year ago that this network was now “substantially complete” (here) and today’s announcement states that it’s “now reaching completion“, which is an interesting demonstration of how the word complete can be twisted to make it sound like work is nearer to being finished than it actually is. But that’s another story.

The deal also included a number of investments in social value initiatives that support the GMCA’s Digital Blueprint to help tackle digital exclusion across the region. These initiatives included providing full fibre broadband free of charge to Deeplish Community Centre and 16 other community sites.

The programme is already said to have provided significant social and economic benefits in the region, including bringing £19.7m-worth of economic value to the local area (direct and indirect) in just 2 years.

Mike Smith, Large Enterprise & Public Sector Director at VMO2 Business, said:

“Providing the infrastructure to connect so many public buildings in Greater Manchester to a fast, reliable and accessible broadband network has been a landmark project for us. Today, digital connectivity is not just a nice to have, it’s an essential part of the way we live and work. It’s been wonderful to see the social impact the Local Full Fibre Networks programme has had on people across the city-region – and we’re looking forward to continuing to tackle digital exclusion in local communities as we plan out the programme’s legacy.”

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien, Leader of Bury Council, said:

“In Greater Manchester, we’re ensuring everyone, whatever their age, location or situation, can benefit from the opportunities digital brings.

I’m encouraged to see digital infrastructure being used to directly benefit our communities. This programme has set a standard and a legacy for industry, public sector and communities working together on meaningful change and towards fixing the digital divide, as we equip the region with the infrastructure it needs to become a world class digital city region.”

The operator will now continue to work with the GMCA on upcoming pilots addressing digital skills and confidence and other initiatives to help to reduce the digital divide across the region.

We should point out that this is separate from Virgin Media’s consumer broadband network in Greater Manchester, which already covers more than 860,000 premises with gigabit-capable connectivity.