Perth's Full Fibre Network is Here

Spanning 19.5km, Perth’s new, end-to-end full fibre network underpins significant digital infrastructure within the region.

Completed in August 2021 by Neos Networks, one of the UK’s leading B2B connectivity providers, it covers city centre locations, including educational institutions, council buildings, leisure centres and sheltered housing, as well as key public buildings such as Perth fire station and the CCTV city operations centre. The network also stretches out to the north and west of the city, close to new 5,000-home housing developments and commercial sites.

Perth and Kinross Council awarded Neos Networks the major gigabit-capable connectivity project in November 2020, with the goal of facilitating next generation technologies such as 5G and Internet of Things (IoT), crucial to futureproofing businesses in the area and the local community.

The full fibre network deployed by Neos forms part of Wave 3 of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Local Full Fibre Network programme. The project received £1m of funding from the UK Government and was supported by Council and Building Digital UK (BDUK) officials from procurement through to completion. The project also utilised just under half a million pounds of UK Government funding allocated to the Tay Cities Deal for digital projects as a local contribution.

Now the network is fully installed and ready for operation, the connectivity provider will help serve Council buildings and the local community for the next 20 years, under IRU agreements between the Council and Neos Networks, futureproofing the region against the ever-growing demands of the digital economy.

Aside from the direct benefits of connectivity, the project is supporting the local economy through investment, government-driven initiatives and schools training programmes to deliver connectivity to rural communities, helping bridge the social divide.

Peter Asman, Managing Director for Public Sector & Enterprise at Neos Networks, said: “The importance of effective collaboration and constant customer contact has been key to the success of this project. Working in conjunction with Perth and Kinross Council has been outstanding and is a prime example of how public sector bodies and service providers can work in partnership to transform society and secure a gigabit-capable digital future for the community.”

The NEOS network is just one part of the Perth’s smart agenda for the future.

Focused on delivering economic resilience and long-term growth through innovation and sustainability, Perth has always played a significant role in Scotland’s economy. The area has grown by 12% in the past 10 years and today records productivity of £58,700 – 17% higher than the Scottish average. As an area it is a main player in the traditional sectors of tourism and agriculture, and throughout the recent past, has reported higher than average employment.

Now, as we move further into the new, smart age in industry, the area has set its sights on ensuring long-term, meaningful change that will secure its reputation as the place to do business in Scotland and the UK.

Smart investing is being delivered through the the key pillars of energy, mobility and digital and aims to create added value through their integration into a single roadmap. Driven by a £700 million City Deal that will leverage ongoing investment and exciting research and development opportunities, the area has committed to increasing business productivity, accelerating decarbonisation, and creating high-worth, sustainable jobs.

Boasting a reputation for excellence in renewable energies, local energy systems, low carbon transport and waste management, the area’s senior economists and policymakers have placed a firm emphasis on energy and mobility smart solutions, including the Perth West development, that will deliver a unique proposition, integrating low carbon innovation within a single urban development.

Over 150 enterprises in this sector already have a base in Perth, including the James Hutton Institute, the McDermott Group and FTSE 100 companies, Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE) and Stagecoach.

By prioritising the growth and development of these world-class companies, alongside forward-thinking projects such as the Perth Smart Energy City Programme, Perth is well placed to lead the smart innovation sector into the future.

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Contact Kirsty Easton in the Invest in Perth Team: [email protected]