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UK FIBRE OPTICS ‘FIRST’ FOR WALSALL WILL HELP COMPANIES COMPETE ON THE GLOBAL STAGE - 23rd January 2007
Walsall could become the launch pad for a revolution in fibre optics technology that will enable companies to do business hundreds of times faster than current broadband speeds and help them compete successfully in the global marketplace.
In what would be a UK first, Walsall Urban Regeneration Company (WRC) is looking to establish a multi million pound pilot project that will catapult the town and the region towards the top of the international business league.
With £500 million of physical regeneration underway in Walsall town centre by 2010, WRC has identified the opportunity to embed this revolutionary technology within the fabric of the re-emerging market town and set up a world class research and training centre.
“With a number of transformational projects under way and major improvements to the ring road there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to lay the foundations for fibre optics which will utterly transform the way we do business and how we use technology in the home,” said WRC director Mohammad Nazir.
Most people use broadband services on copper wire networks that deliver between 1-2 megabytes of information per second. This is miniscule compared to the 1 gigabyte per second available through fibre optics with information able to flow in both directions at the same time.
Countries such as Japan and Korea are ‘light years’ ahead of the UK in utilising this technology.
WRC has appointed a joint team of consultants from Mott MacDonald and Schema to carry out an in-depth study and produce the business case for developing a fibre optical infrastructure and a platform of new services that delivers Fibre to the Premises.
The business case will show how the vision can be realised to generate interest and the necessary investment.
WRC, with the support of private and public sector partners, has already forged links with a number of world leaders in these technologies.
WRC director Dr Geoff Archenhold said: “We want to grasp this exciting opportunity to put Walsall at the heart of 21st century communications, linking businesses and homes with a ‘next generation’ high speed information network.
“The growth of broadband services in the home, business, education, health, entertainment and other sectors is changing the way we live and work. We cannot afford to be left behind as these advances continue; indeed we need to lead the way and utilise the technologies to aid regeneration and assist wealth creation and sustainable communities.”
Project spokesman Tom Allen on behalf of Mott MacDonald /Schema said: “We are delighted that WRC has selected our expertise to develop a business plan for this transformational infrastructure. Our brief is to show how the project could be delivered and attract the necessary investment.”
WRC directors Mohammad Nazir and Dr Geoff Archenhold have expertise in the industry and business relationships with the Far East.
Establishing Walsall as an urban regeneration pilot for fibre optics technology would not only help existing businesses to increase their efficiency and productivity but also attract research and development and blue chip companies to locate there. The proposals to establish a fibre optics platform are fully aligned with government policy for developing photonics as a business sector at the leading edge of the UK’s drive to increase global competitiveness.
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For further information please contact
Lorna Bishop or Nigel Pipkin at Seal Communications
on 0121 200 0780 or email lornabishop@sealcommunications.co.uk