Greater Manchester to Receive Faster Broadband

Virgin Media set to build new fibre optic broadband infrastructure to connect more than 1,700 public sector sites in the region.

03:40 18 March 2020

Residents and businesses in Greater Manchester will soon have access to quicker broadband network - thanks to Virgin Media’s plan to deliver more than 2,700 of new fibre optic broadband infrastructure across the borough. 

 

The scheme was announced after The Great Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) received more than £23million from the government’s Local Full Fibre Network Programme and after a survey of thousands of residents reveals that embracing digital technology should be one of the local council’s top priorities. 

 

Cabinet member for resources, finance and transformation, Cllr Nazia Rehman, said: “High speed connectivity can become a real game changer for businesses in the borough that are looking to expand and grow.

 

“Connecting public sector sites with full fibre should open up more doors and trigger private investment.

 

"We’re clear that we want Wigan and Leigh to embrace a digital transformation and once complete the network should help in delivering the best possible digital services for our residents.

 

“We’re excited about the benefits that this can bring and we look forward to working with Virgin Media on delivering the project.”

 

Managing director of Virgin Media Business Peter Kelly said: “Greater Manchester is an enormously important centre for Virgin Media, a gigabit city and the place our Project Lightning network expansion first started.

 

"Today’s investment will build on our proud connection to the city and bring next-generation connectivity to Greater Manchester, giving the city region the best digital infrastructure coverage in the UK.”