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Full fibre-focused broadband provider CityFibre has unveiled new details of some of the locations up and down the UK that are set to benefit from an additional £1.5 billion investment into upgraded connectivity.
The company announced last week that it has awarded construction contracts for 27 towns and cities throughout the country, which should connect a total of three million homes and businesses to its gigabit-capable fibre-to-the-premises network.
This will help create 3,750 new local network construction jobs across the UK as part of CityFibre's previously announced recruitment and training programme. The firm expects this to create as many as 10,000 network construction jobs over the next three years in order to support its national rollout.
CityFibre stated this brings to a conclusion the first phase of its Accelerated Tender Awards Programme (ATAP). It means the provider now has 26 build partners under contract, securing its construction supply chain for fibre rollouts targeting more than five million premises across 66 towns and cities. All these projects are expected to be in the build phase by the summer of 2021.
The second phase of the ATAP scheme will also be launched before the end of the year for a further three million premises. Work is scheduled to be completed by 2025, in accordance with government aims for national full fibre coverage.
Chief executive of CityFibre Greg Mesch said: "By awarding these full fibre network construction contracts, we can ensure we have the construction resources we need to get the job done, bringing world-class digital infrastructure a step closer to millions across the UK."
Among the cities to see new investment from CityFibre is Middlesbrough. The company confirmed it will spend £42 million to bring gigabit broadband to nearly every home and business in the city.
The announcement was welcomed by the city's mayor Andy Preston, who said it was "fantastic" news for residents and businesses alike.
"Despite Covid, aspects of Middlesbrough are booming, and in 18 months' time the incredible broadband speeds that CityFibre is bringing will help us to create more business and more jobs," he said.
