Another district to receive full fibre broadband connections

Harrogate District is to become the UK’s next ‘gigabit-ready’ area, as work begins to bring full-fibre connectivity to the towns of Harrogate, Knaresborough and Ripon.

As part of FibreNation’s commitment to bring the multi-million-pound network to three million homes in the next decade, the district will be one of just a handful of Yorkshire locations currently able to access the network.

FibreNation, which provides local access to the UK’s full fibre network, has begun work in Bilton to bring the network to Harrogate Town. It will allow homes and businesses access to broadband speeds several times faster than standard connections, enabling people to download a HD film in just seven seconds. Work will expand into Knaresborough and Ripon in the coming months.

The development, which will cover areas across the town, follows a successful rollout in York which is nearing completion and more recently, Dewsbury where work began in July 2019.

The rollout in Harrogate District, once completed, will provide a network build of gigabit-ready fibre to an additional 50,000 homes and businesses by 2023.

Paul Crane, head of engagement and rollout at FibreNation, said: “By bringing full fibre to Harrogate, we are bolstering an already brilliant area in which to both live and work by putting another Yorkshire destination on the full-fibre map.

Having high speed full fibre will bring benefits to the residents and businesses in the district and is a strong next step in achieving our goal of connecting three million homes in the next ten years.

“Fibre is the fourth utility we’ve all been waiting for and we’re proud to be at the forefront of its rollout across Yorkshire and beyond.”

Councillor Don Mackenzie, North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for access, added: “We welcome this further investment in the county’s digital infrastructure, which comes at the same time as our Local Full Fibre Networks project is underway throughout North Yorkshire.

“Alongside NYCC’s Superfast North Yorkshire programme, which has brought high quality broadband to more than 175,000 businesses and households, we welcome FibreNation’s substantial investment in Harrogate district and in the ever-expanding local digital economy.”

Councillor Graham Swift, deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development at Harrogate Borough Council, said: “The announcement of full-fibre arriving in Harrogate is a major step forward towards our ambition to make Harrogate District ‘smart’ and fit for the 2020s.

“It follows a UK-leading smart parking initiative in 2019 and further investment will support the town culturally and economically. I look forward to rollout reaching Knaresborough and Ripon in the near future.

“This project supports our economic growth strategy that aims to improve connectivity, which in turn supports businesses growth and investment across the district.”