Join Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and Virgin Media O2 Business as we showcase learning and findings from the region’s recent Local Full Fibre Network programme roll out. In March 2020, GMCA secured world-class digital infrastructure through biggest government full-fibre investment in the UK, through the appointment of Virgin Media O2 Business up to 2,700km of new fibre optic broadband infrastructure would be delivered across the region. The £23.8M Local Full Fibre Networks Programme aimed to connect more than 1,500 public sites across the city-region.

This new investment, plus existing local authority investments in digital infrastructure, made this the UK’s largest Local Full Fibre Networks Programme and will underpin a wide range of digital transformation and smart city projects. The deal also included a number of bold investments in social value initiatives that supported Greater Manchester’s Digital Blueprint, in areas such as tackling digital exclusion across the region through providing full fibre broadband free of charge to community sites, exceeding GMCA’s local employment target and bringing £19.7m-worth of economic value to the local area (direct and indirect) in just two years.

The event will share success and learning from the programme, via our partners and other speakers and outline how LFFN has created a legacy for the region, not only with digital infrastructure but in social value and future smart city initiatives. We encourage those involved in digital transformation, smart cities and place decision making to attend and encourage attendance from across the UK to hear how the programme has been delivered in Greater Manchester.

Privacy statement

Upon registering your interest for this event through the Eventbrite platform, GMCA will be provided with your name, email address and organisation name. GMCA will use your name and organisation name to keep a record of attendees to our events.

GMCA will use the email address details you provide to invite you to the event and provide you with any relevant joining instructions and event follow up information.

GMCA will hold this data until the event and event communication has concluded, at which point all details will be deleted.

Greater Manchester's Local Full Fibre Network learning and legacy