• About
    • Ethics policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Ownership, funding and corrections
    • Complaints procedure
    • Terms & Conditions
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
Brighton and Hove News
25 June, 2025
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Opinion
    • Community
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
    • Food and Drink
  • Sport
    • Brighton and Hove Albion
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
No Result
View All Result
Brighton and Hove News
No Result
View All Result
Home Brighton

Brighton to be given £1.6m digital ‘upgrade’ to boost 5G services and broadband speeds

by Frank le Duc
Monday 17 Feb, 2020 at 10:04PM
A A
12
Brighton has poor 4G access and slowest download speeds, says Which? report

The centre of Brighton is due to be given a £1.6 million digital upgrade as council bosses and businesses prepare for the next generation of mobile and wireless technology.

They plan to lay a three-mile ring of fibre-optic cable, linking university and college buildings, a public library and a “5G testbed”.

Councillors agreed to put £300,000 towards the cost of the project – to create the Brighton Research and Innovation Fibre Ring.

Brighton and Hove City Council policy chiefs said that the fibre ring would pay for itself – and generate £115 million for the local economy over 10 years.

The aim is to enable more full-fibre connections, relying wholly on faster optical fibre – or fibre-optic – cable, rather than old copper cable.

Even where fibre-optic cable has already been laid, copper cable often still forms part of the network, preventing people from enjoying the full benefits of faster speeds at home and work.

Public buildings would be among the first to benefit from the latest investment, followed by dozens of Brighton’s small and medium-size digital businesses.

Private businesses are expected to put £500,000 towards the cost of the Brighton Research and Innovation Fibre Ring.

The other half of the scheme’s costs will be funded by the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which distributes government money for key economic projects.

The council’s executive director for the economy, environment and culture Nick Hibberd said that the new network would connect Brighton University, the Greater Brighton Met (formerly City College) and the Jubilee Library.

They would also be linked to the Brighton Digital Exchange at New England House and the 5G testbed at the Dome.

Mr Hibberd said: “The fibre spine would be owned by the public sector and operated by a co-operatively owned group of engaged local businesses, encouraging investment from those local digital firms in the same way as the Brighton Digital Exchange does in New England House.

“This will ensure that the economic benefit is felt locally for our small and medium-size enterprises.”

Deputy council leader John Allcock said: “There is no doubt that the UK’s digital infrastructure needs an upgrade.

Councillor John Allcock

“In South Korea, 99 per cent of premises have full-fibre broadband internet. In Japan, it’s 97 per cent. In Portugal, 89 per cent. In Spain, 71 per cent.

“The number here in the UK is 7 per cent, demonstrating the pitiful investment in this country by the government or the so-called free market economy over the last 10 years.

“South Korea has the fastest average internet connection in the world. Their speed is four times faster than the world average of 7mbps (megabits per second).”

Last year the trade publication ISP Review said: “The annual 2019 world speeds report from research firm M-Lab and Cable.co.uk has revealed that for 2019 the United Kingdom delivered an average (mean) broadband ISP download speed of just 22.37mbps (up from 18.57mbps in 2018 and 16.51mbps in 2017), ranking us 34th fastest in the world (up from 35th last year).”

Full-fibre promises “hyperfast” speeds of 500mbps or higher – and possibly even “gigabit broadband”, with speeds of 1gbps or higher.

Councillor Allcock told the council’s Policy and Resources Committee at Hove Town Hall: “Full-fibre broadband uses a fibre-optic cable to connect from the digital exchange to homes or businesses without the use of any copper cable.”

The Labour councillor added that it could provide broadband connection speeds that are 20 times faster than the UK average.

He said: “This is investment in 21st century infrastructure – 20 years into the 21st century – an investment in our local economy.

“Brighton’s digital cluster of small creative and digital businesses is worth over £1 billion to the economy a year and is our fastest growing sector.

“We need to make sure these businesses have the right infrastructure for them to continue to thrive and grow.

“By providing access to ultrafast connection speeds our local digital businesses will have the competitive advantage and be able to develop and deliver new products and services.”

“The ducting will initially be owned by the council, with space leased to a co-operative of local digital businesses to drive community wealth-building and support the growth of the city’s creative digital cluster of businesses.

“The council is also exploring options for the rollout of full fibre across the city.

“This project will serve as a useful pilot and the learning from this project can feed into the wider rollout.

“While I recognise that this project is still at an early stage – and that we need to ensure that the actual costs of the project are within the budget available – the current estimated costs offer good value for money for the council as our contribution represents only 20 per cent of the total cost.

“A new census, published in June by the Data City, reveals that Brighton is the fourth best city in the UK for digital technology.

“Fourth isn’t good enough, we aim to be the first.

ShareTweetShareSendSendShare

Comments 12

  1. Peter Challis says:
    5 years ago

    Great to “impress the neighbours”, however what will this fibre ring actually deliver to generate the expected business, how will this be measured, what is the net financial benefit to residents, what are the predefined success criteria, and will the councillors resign if this is not achieved?

    Reply
  2. Digital Disconnect says:
    5 years ago

    Another day, another bung. Local media getting in on the act too. Shameful.

    – Demonstrated harmful human health + ecological effects
    – Clear and present risk to public safety and security
    – Orwellian mass surveillance / population control
    – 3,000%+ higher energy consumption vs. wired
    – No-one will insure the “high risk” (Swiss Re)

    No prospect of this toxic tech ever being ethical/sustainable.

    Reply
    • Beef Cake says:
      5 years ago

      What evidence is there that 5G is harmful?

      Reply
    • David says:
      5 years ago

      What evidence is there of a bung?

      Reply
    • The Dirty Pants Cowboy says:
      5 years ago

      To echo the poster ‘Beef Cake’, could you please supply some evidence to back-up your claim that 5G is anyway harmful?

      Thanks

      Reply
    • Peter Challis says:
      5 years ago

      Still peddling you ignorant scaremongering misinformation?

      Perhaps try https://www.wired.com/story/worried-5g-health-effects-dont-be/
      or https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000bn50/click-09112019
      or https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/radiation/electromagnetic-fields-fact-sheet

      And perhaps try getting educated?

      Reply
  3. Christopher Hawtree says:
    5 years ago

    No mention of Hove. ‘Twas ever thus.

    Reply
    • Sarah Booker-Lewis says:
      5 years ago

      Councillor Moonan asked about a link to Hove, and this is in future plans.

      Reply
      • Christopher Hawtree says:
        5 years ago

        I suspect it will be every other Tuesday, from an ex-telephone box on New Church Road!

        Reply
    • Peter Challis says:
      5 years ago

      What about Portslade?

      Realistically can’t see what benefit the fibre ring will give residents as it only links university buildings. What is the benefit to libraries?

      WRT general business and domestic Internet speeds we already have Virgin offer up to 1Gb/sec, and high speed 5G is coming this year from Three. For most uses the current OpenReach FTTC system provides sufficient streaming speed.

      I’m still trying to work out the benefit of being able to download a movie in minutes.

      Reply
  4. Rob V says:
    5 years ago

    the unscientific hippies won’t like this one bit!

    Reply
  5. Antoinette says:
    5 years ago

    I think they should focus on more basic things like providing long term help for homeless, building new nurseries, invest in food banks, planting more trees in the parks and outdoor gyms…

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Most read

Independent businesses finally evicted by Co-op

Drug dealing claims could cost Hove restaurant its drinks licence

Up to three libraries face being shelved

Brighton maternity deaths under review in national inquiry

Man held after late-night knifepoint mugging in Brighton

Man charged with rape

Condemned: 8 council blocks of flats face demolition

Council holds skateboarding session in square where skateboarding is banned

Brighton to be given £1.6m digital ‘upgrade’ to boost 5G services and broadband speeds

Date set for reopening of popular seafront paddling pool

Newsletter

Arts and Culture

  • All
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Food and Drink
Memorable performance at ‘Loud Women’ event in Brighton

Memorable performance at ‘Loud Women’ event in Brighton

24 June 2025
Help Me Help B Fundraiser with Yumi & The Weather

Help Me Help B Fundraiser with Yumi & The Weather

23 June 2025
Are The Haunt my ‘New Addiction’?

Are The Haunt my ‘New Addiction’?

21 June 2025
Oh! Darling Delivers Variety

Oh! Darling Delivers Variety

21 June 2025
Load More

Sport

  • All
  • Brighton and Hove Albion
  • Cricket
Sussex struggle to make it to day three against Nottinghamshire

Sussex snatch crucial late wicket as day two ends at Durham

by Thomas Ridley - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
23 June 2025
0

Durham 249-5 (82.1 overs) Sussex 361 (106.5 overs) Durham trail Sussex by 112 runs with five first innings wickets remaining....

Simpson steers Sussex into strong position on day two v Hampshire

Coles hits ton as Sussex see out day one at Durham

by Thomas Ridley - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
22 June 2025
0

Sussex 322-9 (96 overs) A resilient unbeaten century from James Coles for Sussex defied an excellent bowling performance from Durham’s...

Brighton and Hove Albion sign Italy international

Brighton and Hove Albion sign Italy international

by Frank le Duc
17 June 2025
0

Brighton and Hove Albion have signed a 21-year-old Italy international to add to the Seagulls’ defensive options. Diego Coppola has...

Sussex Sharks open T20 Blast with a win

Sussex Sharks stay top of their group with T20 triumph at Glamorgan

by Blake Bint - ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay
14 June 2025
0

Glamorgan 172 (18.5 overs) Sussex 199-7 (20 overs) Sussex won by 27 runs. Sussex 4 points, Glamorgan 0 points. Sussex...

Load More
February 2020
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
242526272829  
« Jan   Mar »

RSS From Sussex News

  • Homes evacuated as bomb disposal experts called in 24 June 2025
  • Child sex abuse claims in NHS units spark police investigation 23 June 2025
  • Man stabbed at railway station 22 June 2025
  • Planners approve £18m scheme for 36 homes on land next to hospital 21 June 2025
  • Sex attacker’s victim died days after court ordered retrial 19 June 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
  • About
  • Contact
  • Support
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy
  • Complaints
  • Ownership, funding and corrections
  • Ethics
  • T&C

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News

No Result
View All Result
  • News
    • Opinion
  • Arts and Culture
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Sport
    • Cricket
  • Newsletter
  • Public notices
  • Advertise
  • About
  • Contact

© 2023 Brighton and Hove News