Lancaster City Council has announced the activation of a 30km fibre optic network for public sector organisations and businesses across the district.
The network, which consists of a spine of ultra-fast fibre optic cables connecting Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham, has been developed in collaboration with local network specialists The Networking People (TNP).
The council is also working with Cooperative Network Infrastructure (CNI) – which has helped to develop similar networks in Blackpool and Tameside – to make the network available to other public sector partners including the police, NHS, education institutions, and Lancashire County Council.
Businesses will also be able to access the network through internet service providers who are cooperative members.
Strengthening infrastructure
Cllr Tim Hamilton-Cox, cabinet member with responsibility for finance, said: “This fibre network marks a significant step forward in strengthening the district’s digital infrastructure.
“The city council’s £1.8 million capital investment in a high speed fibre network will reduce the council’s own costs for data transmission but also create new opportunities for businesses – especially the district’s enviable collection of companies which have digital-intensive operations - and ensure that the district remains at the forefront of digital innovation.
“The project has been delivered on budget and is an exemplar of collaboration between public, private and third sector organisations. In particular, I would like to thank Tony Doyle of Blackpool Borough Council and the city council’s ICT team for their intensive support to make the project happen.
“With the bulk of the budget being spent with TNP and B4RN, businesses which are owned and based in the district, it is Community Wealth-Building realised at some scale.”
Lancaster said the next step will be to develop a state-of-the-art hyper-green data centre facility at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre from which waste heat will be transferred to the swimming pool in order to reduce its running costs.
