We are in an enviable position here in the North East that is unrivalled anywhere else in the UK.
Something is happening that will set us on a trajectory that can’t be matched by other UK cities and we are emerging as a real alternative to London in our capabilities.
What is driving this change is world-class connectivity.
We have developed capabilities that will make the North East attractive to big tech companies who want and need the infrastructure capable of secure, reliable and fast movement of vast amounts of data at high speed.
The city and the region is now leading the way in global connectivity with some very important developments at the Stellium Data Centre in North Tyneside. The data centre campus – located on the Cobalt Business Park – is the largest single, purpose-built data centre facility in the country and now home to the UK’s only cable landing station on the, recently launched, North Atlantic Loop. This advanced Fibre Optic Network is currently under construction – the first of this new generation of Transatlantic cable routes – which, when completed, will make it faster and more reliable to transfer data from Newcastle to the US, The Nordics and Northern Europe; than from anywhere else in the UK. This will give the region faster and more reliable digital connectivity, and make it hugely appealing for inward investors and data-rich businesses looking to expand within or relocate to the region.
Newcastle now sits at the heart of a major new global, digital hub.
There are currently 15 of these major fibre optic cables connecting the US to the UK mainly through London. Over the coming few years this number is set to drop to seven; with, at least, two routing through the Stellium Data Centre campus.
At 130,000 miles per second – approaching the speed of light – we are set to see a connection speed of 66ms from Newcastle to New York.
Connectivity is what’s driving the regeneration of businesses and cities and if cities don’t keep pace with the technological advancements and the speed of data exchange they will get left behind.
The framework for the future of cities is that they are sustainable, agile and productive – the only way they can achieve this is through technology. To be a truly SMART city the whole city needs to be connected on a scalable fibre optic infrastructure.
The good news is that Newcastle City Council is well advanced on its own ambitious and expansive Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN) programme. In addition, NE1 Ltd – the Business Improvement District company for Newcastle City Centre – is seeking to champion Gigabyte connectivity for the city centre and to inspire businesses and individuals within the NE1 catchment area. It is a cornerstone of their own five-year business plan to improve the digital infrastructure for both business and consumers and this is one way to achieve this goal. If we can get the whole of the NE1 postcode fibre-optically connected it will act as a catalyst for the wider city area and then the region.
It is therefore essential that the region’s infrastructure focus shifts from just road, rail and transport to ensure that digital connectivity and digital infrastructure is embedded into the fabric of the city and the wider region. We must ensure that the fibre optic cabling that will link the UK to US via the North East doesn’t bypass the city and its residents but goes in to every local authority facility; every home, and every business premise large and small; what’s called Fibre to the Home (FTTH) and Fibre to the Premises, (FTTP). By making this happen we can truly acclaim Newcastle as not just a Smart City but the UK’s leading Smart City.
So what does all this mean and what’s to be gained from having the highest data speed links between the UK the US and Europe here in the North East? We will literally have the future in our own hands – in the smartphone in our pockets, and the laptop on our desks.
Connectivity allows us to buy on Amazon, book a cab on Uber, or a room on Airbnb – it has driven the seismic lifestyle and business shifts that we’ve all witnessed over the last ten years and will fuel the digital transformations and innovations of the future. We just need to ensure that everyone is part of it.
It is not just about improving download speeds, it is about innovation, change and re-invention, it’s about a future that we can’t yet imagine. It is about building the capabilities that will allow the development of A.I., Machine Learning, Virtual and Augmented Reality, 5G and whatever else is next. It is about doing it here in Newcastle and the North East to harness the creativity and innovation that is the life-blood of this region and ensuring that everyone gets to play their part. In turn this will enable talent attraction and retention, inward investment and economic development
