Superfast broadband work begins in Cardiff’s Castle Quarter

Engineering work to bring the latest broadband technology to Cardiff’s Castle quarter has started as part of a new deal jointly funded by Cardiff BID and Openreach.

Openreach, which is responsible for the majority of Britain’s phone and broadband infrastructure, is currently installing fibre-to-the-cabinet technology outside St. John’s Church with four new cabinets being built.

According to the firm, these cabinets will make superfast broadband available to around 200 businesses in the Castle Quarter by March 2018 – boosting the local economy.

Currently, businesses operating in the area are experiencing download speeds of less than 20 megabits per second. But following the work, they’ll get speeds of up to 80 megabits per second.

As a result, they’ll be able to work more efficiently, create new business opportunities and forge stronger connections with their customers. Faster broadband may also attract new companies.

Established in November 2016, Cardiff BID covers 130 streets in the capital city – stretching from Principality Stadium to Newport Road and Butetown to Cathays.

It’s one of the largest BID areas in the UK, consisting of over 950 levy payers. Superfast broadband technology is one of the many priorities for businesses that the BID will address in its five-year term.

Adrian Field, executive director for Cardiff BID, said: “From the moment Cardiff BID was proposed, it was clear that broadband was an issue high on the business agenda, which means it had been one of our top priorities. We’re delighted to be working with Openreach to bring superfast broadband to this part of the city.

“Upgrading the broadband capabilities of the Castle Quarter will have a tangible impact on businesses in the area, enabling them to operate the way you would expect from a business in the capital city. The new service could be instrumental in helping Cardiff retain businesses and attract new ones.”

Ed Hunt, Wales and West director of next generation access for Openreach, said: “It is great to be able to work with such a proactive Business Improvement District as Cardiff BID to find a fibre broadband solution.

‘We are working on hundreds of similar community fibre partnership programmes across the UK, which are bringing faster internet access to even more homes and businesses. Openreach is committed to making fibre broadband as widely available as possible.”