£32m tender request issued as Greater Manchester targets fastest data speeds in the UK

data

Greater Manchester’s local authorities have issued a major £32m tender request to enable high-speed, “full-fibre” data connectivity at public sector sites across the city-region.

Described as futureproof, “full fibre to the premises” (FFTP) broadband has no speed or bandwidth limit. Through the tender, over 1300 public sector sites across Greater Manchester will be connected up with up to 450km of new full-fibre cables, ready to send and receive high-speed digital data.

Such wholesale implementation by the public sector is expected to trigger additional private finance investment of over £200m and lead to an increase of full-fibre coverage from 3% now to around 25% within three years, giving Greater Manchester the best high-speed digital infrastructure coverage of any city-region in the UK.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “Connecting Greater Manchester’s public sector sites in this way will supercharge our digital capacity and trigger major private investment. As well as revolutionising our online public services, it will provide a huge boost to Greater Manchester’s economy and productivity, cementing our position as one of the leading digital city-regions in Europe.”

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Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester


The largest project of its kind in the UK, the tender request is based on the collective requirements of eight of the 10 Greater Manchester local authorities, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, and Transport for Greater Manchester.

As part of the tender, public sector bodies will be given access to the network for at least 20 years.

Andrew Western, GMCA Digital City Region lead said: “The full-fibre high-speed data network will have a transformational impact on digital infrastructure in Greater Manchester. It opens opportunities to better connect public services, for future Internet of Things and 5G uses, and will enable more dynamic management of the transport network, including faster response times to manage real-time incidents and traffic flow.”

Interested suppliers are being asked to register their interest and respond to a qualification questionnaire before May 13, 2019. Shortlisted suppliers will then be invited to submit an initial tender followed by negotiation workshops if necessary.

The Combined Authority hopes to be in a position to award contracts in September 2019.


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