Rural broadband provider Quickline Communications has been awarded a £60m contract as part of the Government’s multibillion-pound Project Gigabit programme.
The Hull-based firm will roll out a full fibre network to more than 28,000 hard-to-reach rural properties in West Yorkshire and the York area, including communities in North and East Yorkshire. Quickline’s contract will subsidise the connection of places surrounding Selby, York, Bradford, Kirklees, Wakefield, Leeds, Ripon, Harrogate, Skipton, Calder Valley, Keighley, Pocklington and Stamford Bridge.
Its network will support speeds of up to 10Gbps so that current and future internet service providers can serve home and business customers with faster connections than copper-based networks can offer. And alongside the deal, Quickline will make private investment to reach 58,000 additional premises.
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As part of the contract, Quickline will also undertake a social values programme which includes generating jobs and providing training, including creating apprenticeships and accredited training courses. It has set up partnerships with organisations such as STEM Learning, Tech She Can and the Institution of Engineering and Technology to invest in learning and engagement initiatives for thousands of students.
Sean Royce, CEO at Quickline, said: “We are extremely proud to be chosen as a delivery partner to the Government for rural connectivity. Our mission at Quickline is to connect the unconnected to a world of possibilities by building a fast and reliable broadband network for rural communities.
“Project Gigabit is transformational and we are thrilled to play our part in changing the lives of people living in rural West Yorkshire, alongside parts of North and East Yorkshire. But this is about more than just broadband; we’re passionate about supporting rural communities, driving economic growth, creating jobs and helping to build the future digital workforce.”
Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said: “We’ve hit a huge milestone in connecting a million homes and businesses in hard-to-reach communities across the country to fast, reliable broadband. In a huge boost for Yorkshire, Quickline can now get started on work to connect communities in rural areas in many parts of the county, improving lives for residents, helping businesses grow and supporting the economy.”
Mandy Ridyard, business advisor to the Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: “We’re thrilled to see gigabit-capable internet connections start to roll out to rural and hard-to-reach homes and businesses in West Yorkshire. Access to fast and reliable internet is vital for our businesses to thrive, for our children to be educated, and for our people to be informed and connected.”
