Facility launched to power rural broadband rollout

Internet service provider, Quickline, has opened a new facility in Leeds to support the rapid rollout of fast and reliable broadband across rural Yorkshire.

The site forms part of the provider’s delivery under Project Gigabit – the government-funded programme enabling hard-to-reach communities to access fast, reliable, gigabit-capable broadband, reaching parts of the UK that might otherwise miss out on upgrades to next-generation speeds.

Located in the Leeds South West and Morley constituency, the facility was officially opened by MP Mark Sewards, alongside representatives from Quickline and the Government.

As well as serving as a logistics hub – reducing engineer travel time and cutting emissions – the site is home to a purpose-built training centre for apprentices and a dedicated classroom for work experience students and school groups, encouraging STEM learning, digital literacy and helping young people develop new skills.

Sewards said: “It’s fantastic to see this investment in our community, not only bringing world-class connectivity to rural areas but also providing opportunities for young people to learn and gain valuable experience in an exciting, fast-moving industry.”

Sean Royce, CEO of Quickline, said: “This new facility is a key part of our mission to connect rural communities across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.

“By bringing materials closer to where we work, we’re increasing efficiency and reducing emissions.

“More importantly, we’re investing in people – creating a place to train, inspire and support the digital pioneers, entrepreneurs and engineers of tomorrow.”

Telecoms Minister, Sir Chris Bryant, said: “Quickline’s new training centre in Leeds exemplifies exactly what Project Gigabit was designed to achieve: bringing lightning-fast broadband to rural communities while creating sustainable jobs, skills, and opportunities for local people, helping us delivering on our Plan for Change.”