A scheme to bring ultra-fast internet speeds to Bristol and help boost the local economy has been launched by city Internet Service Provider Triangle Networks with fibre network infrastructure group CityFibre.
Bristol: Gigabit City is offering a portfolio of new, ultra-fast services targeted at Bristol’s business community. 
Running over CityFibre’s pure fibre, gigabit speed network, the services will bring some of the fastest speeds in Europe within reach of the entire business community.
CityFibre says the initiative will transform Bristol into a Gigabit City, extending the reach and availability of its state-of-the-art, 82km pure fibre network to serve the largest possible number of Bristol businesses.
To do this, businesses are encouraged to register their interest, with no obligation, on the project website as part of the ‘Gig Up Bristol’ campaign www.cityfibre.com/Bristol.
Registrations will enable CityFibre to map areas of demand and prioritise roll-out, ensuring the network is within reach of the maximum number of businesses.
Slow internet speeds are widely seen as a brake on economic activity, particularly for Bristol’s fast-growing creative and tech sectors.
Speakers at the Bristol: Gigabit City launch, held at the Engine Shed innovation hub – in Brunel’s original station at Temple Meads, said how vital fast internet speeds were to maintaining Bristol’s leading edge.
Bristol City Council director of future group Stephen Hilton said it had long been an ambition of the city to give everybody more bandwidth than they knew what to do with. That was the way the kind of innovation that Bristol is known for happened.
“I would like to think that if Brunel was looking down at us he would be smiling,” he said. “He would’ve recognised the value of Gigabit City.”
Also speaking at the launch was Paul Appleby of Bristol Media, who said fast internet should be viewed as no different from any other utility – an essential factor for any business space.
He gave an overview of Bristol’s strength in creativity and technology, pointing out that connectivity and collaboration were key factors in the city achieving its number one position.
CityFibre CEO and serial entrepreneur Greg Mesch said: “It’s great to see how fast this project has become a reality. We are now at the point of launching services to the market that will change the way that Bristol does business. Pure fibre infrastructure is raising the bar and resetting expectations everywhere we look and here is yet another example; ultra-fast speeds, affordable and within reach of almost every business. Exciting times are ahead.”
Triangle Networks managing director Paul Anslow said: “Thousands of Bristol businesses have never had access to ultra-fast internet speeds because of the huge costs associated with traditional networks. From today – they do. The services we have launched today over CityFibre’s pure fibre network have the capability to revolutionise a business’ digital experience and transform the way they operate. With affordable access to speeds light-years ahead of your current services, now is the time to register your interest and reach out to one of our partners. Gig Up Bristol!”
Offerings include entry-level symmetrical 500Mbps broadband services as well as a full 1000Mbps ‘Gigabit’ symmetrical service. Ofcom’s Connected Nations report identified that 46% of SMEs were forced to endure speeds of up to 10Mbps, making Triangle’s new products 50x and 100x faster respectively.
Pictured, from left: Triangle Networks MD Paul Anslow with CityFibre CEO Greg Mesch
