Insider Media Limited

LightSpeed Derby says it is stepping up its online campaign to ensure the city is at the top of the list for investment in superfast broadband following the government’s strategy announcement this week.

The government revealed it wants to make sure every community in the UK will gain access to superfast broadband by 2015 and has pledged funding to support private sector plans which will give the UK the best broadband network in Europe.

LightSpeed Derby, supported by funding from Emda through Derby City Council’s Single Programme, is the city-wide campaign to attract millions of pounds of investment in the latest superfast broadband technology into Derby and the surrounding area.

It is running an online campaign through its website, which it says will demonstrate the desire and potential market among residents and businesses in the area as part of its discussions with telecommunications providers to achieve this aim.

Graham Bennett, chairman of LightSpeed Derby, said the government plans announced this week was “brilliant news” but the challenge was now to ensure that Derby was at the top of the list for telecommunications providers looking to invest.

“I am confident that the work we have already done both to demonstrate public interest in superfast broadband and our discussions with telecommunications providers to effectively smooth the way for investment will hold Derby in good stead with the impetus that this government announcement is bound to make. The culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has quite rightly highlighted the benefits to the economy of superfast broadband – creating jobs, supporting business innovation and strengthening local communities.

“Although the government has earmarked £830m for the scheme, the indications are that this will be for more rural areas so I don’t think that Derby will necessarily benefit from public funding, but there is already strong interest from a number of different telecommunications companies in Derby.

“The first area in the city to be upgraded by BT Openreach is the Mickleover exchange which will benefit thousands of homes and smaller businesses and we hope to have another big announcement in the New Year of further investment.

“The online campaign is a key part of our work to make the potential investors sit up and take notice of Derby as a prime place to invest in the latest technology and I would urge businesses, organisations and residents to sign up to the campaign on our website.”

Meanwhile, Derby County Football Club has put its weight behind the campaign and is championing LightSpeed Derby by match-funding a sponsorship programme with ground and match programme advertising, e-communications and by hosting a pre-match seminar on Saturday December 18 to encourage other businesses and organisations to follow suit and support the campaign through the club.

Bennett continued: “The club has been hugely supportive of the campaign by helping us launch this partner sponsorship activity. I hope that it will result in huge numbers of Rams supporters signing up to our campaign and encourage other businesses and organisations to maintain this important profile through their support.”

Tom Glick, chief executive of Derby County Football Club added: “The LightSpeed Derby campaign has many synergies with Derby County. We are both working hard to put Derby on the map and have the best interests of our local community at heart.

“Superfast broadband will be a valuable asset to Derby County Football Club as a business. It will also enable our supporters to better interact our on-line activities including our website, online shop and Rams Player with a broadband service that is faster, more reliable and more affordable for everyone.

“We are confident that the profile achieved through DCFC will greatly enhance the LightSpeed Derby campaign and hopefully add weight to the work underway to secure this much needed investment in our great city.”