CBC - Fibre Network for Manor Royal Business District

Crawley Borough Council is launching its digital connectivity project to improve broadband connectivity in the Manor Royal business park, an initiative with the potential to drive substantial economic growth in Crawley. Up to GBP1.5 million in funding has been secured through the UK Government’s Towns Fund initiative for this project, and will be allocated towards the deployment of fibre-to-the-premise (FTTP) digital infrastructure throughout the Manor Royal business park, enabling access to gigabit-capable connectivity for 100% of premises in the park. As such, Crawley Borough Council is seeking to engage a partner to build, operate, maintain and commercialise this network. The establishment of a commercial partnership, achieved through a combination of public and private investment, is central to maximising the project’s economic benefit, by increasing the capital that can be deployed and thereby expanding the potential FTTP coverage across Crawley. The built network, which will involve the deployment of new infrastructure, as well as reusing existing assets (e.g. ducts), will provide additional capacity and stimulate broadband competition across Manor Royal. This extra competition will enable choice and flexibility for businesses and will help support the ever-increasing need for high-speed broadband connectivity.Whilst the provision of gigabit-capable connectivity to Manor Royal business park is the minimum requirement for this project, elements of the funding may also be used for complimentary initiatives to further enhance the economic benefit. These initiatives are to be suggested by the supplier. Such initiatives may involve extending this network and deploying FTTP to other regions within Crawley; a resilient backhaul fibre route could connect the nearby business parks of Lowfield Heath and Three Bridges, as well as other potential sites across the town centre.The project will directly benefit businesses in Manor Royal and, through these additional opportunities, potentially other business districts in Crawley (i.e. the town centre, Lowfield Heath and Three Bridges), by providing an alternative route to gigabit-capable connectivity, which will support growth and innovation. There may also be indirect benefits to residents as the infrastructure could support additional FTTP deployment within the town, which would bring further choice for consumers and enable Crawley to be a truly ‘digital’ town.