CityFibre Infrastructure : Gigabit City status set to supercharge connectivity in Slough and Maidenhead

Businesses in Slough and Maidenhead are set to join their ultra-fast neighbours in Reading and Bracknell by gaining Gigabit City status as the full-fibre revolution extends across the Thames Valley.

Leading UK infrastructure provider, CityFibre, will soon begin work to transform the towns' digital connectivity by providing an ultrafast, pure fibre alternative to the towns' legacy copper-based networks, allowing them to join the ranks of the world's best digitally connected locations.

CityFibre partner, Berkshire-based IT and telecoms specialist BtL Communications will work to connect businesses across the network, providing them with access to gigabit-speed internet services up to 100 times faster than the UK's average speeds. A full fibre connection will help them to boost their competitiveness, productivity and growth as business operations move increasingly online and the requirement for bandwidth increases.

The build will light up 38km of fibre network from Slough Trading Estate to the town centre, and a further 10km across Maidenhead. This significant investment is set to contribute to Thames Valley Berkshire LEP's prediction that boosting ultrafast connectivity will generate an additional £1.2bn GVA for the region over the next five to seven years.

Nick Gray, City Development Manager at CityFibre commented: 'Berkshire is known as an economic powerhouse, and Slough in particular - a renowned hub for blue-chip businesses and start-ups - has grown its reputation as one of the UK's most tech-savvy towns in the region.

'From the latest Tech Nation Report we know that the digital technology industry contributes billions to the UK economy, creates high value jobs and attracts investment from all over the world. This presents excellent opportunities for Thames Valley communities. It is vitally important, therefore, that this growing region has the best connectivity possible to enable it to remain competitive on a global stage.

'We are excited to welcome Slough and Maidenhead on board as our newest Gigabit Cities in the region and look forward to seeing local businesses flourishing thanks to this transformational infrastructure.'

With customers already connected to CityFibre networks in Reading and Bracknell, BtL Communications, will be offering businesses in Slough and Maidenhead access to some of the fastest download and upload speeds in the world.

Rob Lamden, Managing Director, BtL commented: 'We have been helping businesses in the region with their IT, telecoms and internet connectivity since 2001 and we are very pleased to be working with CityFibre to make a real difference to the region's digital landscape.

'Having grown up in Maidenhead and Slough from the age of nine, I am particularly motivated to bring the gigabit revolution to the towns I grew up in.

'We are now able to offer local businesses next-generation internet services at highly competitive prices that will turbocharge their capabilities and give them a huge head-start over the competition. And of course BtL will be alongside them to support their growth and to help them take full advantage.

As the network continues to be extended, businesses are urged to register their interest at www.cityfibre.com/connect