Babcock launch superfast broadband

Engineering support services group Babcock is launching the first phase of its roll-out of superfast broadband in Norfolk.

The group is aiming to provide the infrastructure needed for internet service providers (ISPs) to supply superfast broadband to businesses and the private sector first in and around Norwich and then further afield. 

Babcock will be offering broadband up to 25km from Norwich through a partnership with Norwich-based ISP Freeclix using some existing infrastructure, a boost in capacity and with some additional equipment installed.

It is called a Next Generation Network and will use antennae to transmit broadband to businesses who would be fitted with antennae.

Richard Lewis, Babcock's Next Generation Network project director, said those who will most benefit from this phase of the project would be businesses on the edge of Norwich, including industrial estates, who have so far struggled to get decent broadband services.

Third party ISPs will be able to use the infrastructure, which Babcock says will be fully deployed by March next year. The firm also has plans to extend the Norwich network further into rural areas.

In addition the firm is creating a WiFi zone in the city in partnership with The Cloud, who provide wireless broadband in locations such as McDonalds and Pret a Manger .

Babcock has been working on the project for the past nine months.