Work has got underway on a £10m investment in a full fibre broadband network in Stirling.
Telecoms firm CityFibre said the spending programme, being carried out in partnership with Vodafone, will enable almost every home and business across Stirling City will be able to access ultrafast connectivity.
Construction work has started in the Cambusbarron area, with Bannockburn set to follow in the New Year. As part of the project, CityFibre will also be extending its network to Bridge of Allan.
The first homes and businesses will see their full fibre services ‘go live’ in spring next year, with construction work expected to continue throughout next year and into 2020. Blantyre-based PMK Civil Engineering is delivering the construction programme on CityFibre’s behalf.
Elaine Doherty, CityFibre’s City Development Manager for Stirling, said: “Ultrafast broadband will help households access all the latest entertainment at lightning speed, but the benefits are far deeper than that – from enabling smart home technology to giving people the freedom to work from home with ease.”
According to research from economic consultancy Regeneris, full fibre connectivity will have a major impact in Stirling over the next 15 years. It shows that up to £11m could be added to the value of local homes, while Smart City initiatives could add as much as £21m locally. Access to full fibre could also unlock £14m in business productivity and innovation, while a further £8m in growth could be driven from new business start-ups, with enhanced connectivity making it easier and less expensive to set up base and run efficiently.
Councillor Scott Farmer, Leader of Stirling Council, said: “The start of these works by CityFibre signals the power being switched on for a new age for Stirling. Secure, high speed access to the internet is such vital part of the City’s infrastructure and is a key asset to encourage more businesses and visitors to the area.”
