AFTER just 11 months, the Peterborough CORE network build is complete. Peterborough is now a Gigabit City with access to some of the fastest internet connectivity in the world.

Since April last year, CityFibre has installed 90km of pure fibre network around Peterborough, creating a new, state-of-the-art digital infrastructure for the city. Businesses and public sector sites, including schools and Peterborough City Hospital, that are connected to the network are now accessing internet speeds of up to 1000Mbps.

Peterborough now rivals cities like Stockholm and Seoul in terms of connectivity and has a future-proof network which will keep businesses one step ahead of competitors both in the UK and abroad.

One hundred new business customers have already signed orders for services from CityFibre’s service provider partners including Businesscoms, Rydal Communications, Consulting Networks and Cyberware.

CityFibre CEO Greg Mesch said: “In less than one year Peterborough has been transformed into a Gigabit City. With a future-proof digital infrastructure at its heart, Peterborough has a digital head-start on the rest of the country. Its public sector is already more efficient and capable of innovation while its business community is becoming more competitive and productive.”

There are just a final few Peterborough City Council sites to connect via its IT services provider Serco before all 107 public sector sites, including administrative offices, data centres, schools and hospitals, are up and running.

CityFibre installed the 90km of fibre in the ground around the city at an average rate of 1.5km per week, although at times much faster as teams worked in relay to minimise disruption.

Marco Cereste, leader of Peterborough City Council, said: “We cannot overstate the value of a gigabit speed digital infrastructure to our city. As a Gigabit City, we have a significant competitive advantage over other areas and are able to lead the way with an innovative and integrated digital strategy. Businesses are hungry for bandwidth and we recognise that because of this network, Peterborough is becoming an even more attractive place to build a business. ”

Demand for connectivity from businesses in areas not included in the original network plan has also been harnessed to extend the CORE’s footprint. Demand has triggered network extensions to four new business parks in the city including Fengate, Lynch Wood, Cygnet Park and Orton Southgate. Once connected, these will bring gigabit connectivity within reach of a further 1,000 businesses.

Andy Starnes, city development manager at CityFibre, said: “Now we have completed the CORE network and demonstrated the appetite for improved digital connectivity, we look forward to the next stage – bringing the benefits of gigabit speed connectivity to more and more businesses in the city.

“Those companies which are already connected are now experiencing real improvements to their user experience and bottom line. Now, with extensions being made out to the city’s four main business parks, more businesses than ever will have access to next-generation digital services.

“We would like to thank the visionary leadership of the council and business leaders who have supported us from the beginning and continue to support us as we grow and extend the network.”

As part of CityFibre’s ‘Well Planned City’ network design, the Peterborough CORE has been deployed to benefit the city’s previously underserved business community. More than 1,000 businesses registered their interest in services as part of the ‘Gig Up Peterborough’ pre-registration campaign.

The completion of the Peterborough CORE comes as CityFibre continues to build gigabit networks up and down the UK. As well as on-going projects in the likes of Coventry, Aberdeen and York, the company has recently undertaken its largest city network to date in Edinburgh.

To register your business visit www.peterboroughcore.com. Follow us on Twitter @PboroCORE.