Nearly every home and business in Reading will gain access to next-generation broadband
thanks to a major investment by CityFibre.
Reading is to benefit from an investment of at least £58m in its digital future, as part of CityFibre’s plans to upgrade the nation’s legacy networks with gigabit-capable full fibre connectivity.
The state-of-the-art infrastructure is expected to boost business productivity and innovation and
deliver millions in economic benefits for the town, while giving residents access to the UK’s
fastest broadband services.
Detailed planning is already underway as CityFibre, the UK’s third national infrastructure
platform, designs a network capable of serving Reading’s current and future demands. Upon
completion, the network will be in reach of nearly every home and business in the town and will
provide a platform for a new generation of “smart city” applications, as well as the roll-out of 5G
mobile services.
CityFibre has appointed Stacey King as City Manager to spearhead delivery of the Reading
project, which is due to commence in January. In this role, Stacey will be responsible for
ensuring the state-of-the-art full fibre network is implemented with minimal disruption while
delivering maximum benefit for the wider community.
Stacey will also be the lead point of contact for all the town’s stakeholders and a key advocate
of the wide-ranging benefits that a full fibre network will bring to Reading’s residents and
businesses.
Stacey said: “Thriving towns like Reading have so much to gain from assets like next generation digital infrastructure, unlocking growth and opportunity.
“CityFibre is doing everything it can to transform towns and cities across the country, and it’s
really exciting to be involved in this mission. Connectivity has proven to be more important than
ever to residents, businesses and public services this year. With our Full Fibre network,
Reading can embed resilience, while also futureproofing its infrastructure for the innovations
and opportunities that lie ahead.”
Stacey has 20 years’ experience in the telecoms industry. Her previous role was as regional
director for BT, covering the Thames Valley. Stacey has excellent knowledge of the Reading
area and has been heavily involved in building strong relationships across key stakeholders,
such as the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Local Enterprise Partnership
(Thames Valley Berkshire). She is also CityFibre’s City Manager for Slough.
Instalcom is delivering the construction programme on CityFibre’s behalf , using modern build
techniques to deploy the network quickly. CityFibre will work closely with Reading Borough
Council and local communities to ensure a fast and successful roll-out. Residents are being
kept informed by mailings ahead of works commencing in their streets.
Paul Alderton, Communications Director, Instalcom Ltd., said: “We are pleased to have
been awarded this contract by CityFibre for the network build in Reading. It’s great to be part of
an enterprise that transforms communities’ digital experiences, by giving them more reliable,
futureproof broadband.”
Cllr Jason Brock, Leader at Reading Borough Council, said: “We welcome this private
investment by CityFibre into Reading to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose digital infrastructure
that will futureproof residents and businesses. CityFibre’s full fibre network will be vital in
ensuring Reading has a resilient and dynamic economy for years to come and Reading
Borough Council continues to work closely with the private sector to facilitate economic growth
in the digital age.”
The network is not yet live, but once activated, services will be available from an increasing
range of broadband providers. Across the UK, CityFibre is already working with launch partner
Vodafone to deliver next generation broadband services, and TalkTalk is expected to join the
network soon.
If residents are interested in full fibre broadband, they can pre-register interest with CityFibre to
receive information when services are available. To pre-register, visit: cityfibre.com/residential
