Elevate Make Rapid Progress on New Fibre Broadband Network in St Helens

Alternative network operator Elevate, which back in April 2025 secured the contract to build a new “hyperfast” full fibre broadband network in the Merseyside (England) town of St Helens (here), has today revealed that they’ve made “substantial progress” on the deployment with 4,874 metres worth of fibre already installed.

Elevate, which are using their own engineers, added that this means they’ve already completed the subducting required for the project and laid over 99% of the track, helping to pave the way for faster internet speeds and better reliability for residents and businesses in the town centre – less than six months after the project began.

The new network, which is said to be supported by funding from the previous Government’s £3.6bn Town Fund Programme (details), is being built on behalf of the St Helens Borough Council and its Digital Infrastructure Programme. “The network will significantly increase internet speeds and reliability for residents and businesses across the Town Centre,” said Elevate’s original announcement.

The deployment itself adopts a “Dig Once” strategy, which typically reflects the wide reuse of existing cable ducts, street furniture and other infrastructure to run new fibre (i.e. reducing the need for new street works). Projects like this tend to focus on building a full fibre network to connect local public sector sites, rather than individual homes and businesses, although the latter may often follow via additional private investment.

We should point out that the central part of the town is already partly covered by gigabit-capable broadband from Openreach (BT) and Virgin Media (O2), with outer areas also being reached by various alternative networks.

Councillor Keith Laird, St Helens Borough Council’s Cabinet Member, said:

“We’re really pleased with the rapid progress that’s been made, and the reception from businesses and residents across the town centre who recognise the social and economic benefits this project will deliver. The new full fibre network is essential digital infrastructure which will help to make us one of the most digitally connected towns in the region.

We’ve also been working with Elevate to absolutely maximise the social value of this project, providing new opportunities and better connections for hundreds of people across the borough.”

Elevate has also been working proactively with local institutions and community interest companies to extend the impact of the project, such as via a £30,000 contribution to Thrive, which will fund targeted services for SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). The operator also donated £10,000 to St Helens Borough Council to cover the cost of 800 lessons through the Tute ‘Virtual School’ program.

Finally, the operator is providing a free, lifetime 1Gbps internet connection to the St Helens Coalition of Disabled People (Buzz Hub), based at Nuttall House.

The Council were supported in the development of the Project by Digital Infrastructure experts CJ Founds Associates, who helped to develop the Commercial Case and Contracting Strategy.