Full-fibre network to launch in Halifax as part of £4bn investment

Three Yorkshire towns and cities are to benefit including Halifax, Sheffield, and Barnsley.

CityFibre said the programme will create thousands of construction jobs in the North this year.

The announcement brings the total number of UK premises identified to five million in 62 towns and cities.

The firm said each location will benefit from a future-proof network that will support the digital needs of homes, businesses, next generation mobile networks and public services for generations.

Underpinned by a full-fibre infrastructure platform, it said these towns and cities will spur economic growth, helping to level up the UK and support the Government’s target of nationwide coverage by 2025.

In an acceleration of its plans, CityFibre will shortly be awarding more than £1.5bn in network construction contracts for the newly announced full-city builds.

The five million-home rollout will create more than 5,000 construction jobs across the UK and stimulate local economic growth in the region of £85bn.

The announcement was welcomed by the Secretary of State for the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Oliver Dowden, for its contribution towards the Government’s target of nationwide full-fibre coverage by 2025.

Mr Dowden said: “We want to make sure every corner of the country benefits from world-class, gigabit speed broadband, so it is great to see CityFibre expanding out into 36 more towns and cities.

“We are working closely with industry to push ahead with nationwide rollout and investing £5bn so the hardest-to-reach areas aren’t left behind.”

Henri Murison, director of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership, said: “Many Northern Powerhouse towns and cities are set to benefit from this significant investment unlocking fibre to the premises.”