Corridor Connections believes that there are real future opportunities for Software Developers and other businesses to add value to the BBC:North Project. To facilitate the connection between the BBC’s needs and the capabilities of the businesses located on Corridor Manchester we are holding a workshop on 30th November to focus on the development of a ‘Talent Bank’ to showcase services to the BBC and provide a platform for collaborative activity. This workshop is for all businesses that would like to share in this opportunity and help shape its development. This event will bring together key individuals from the BBC, the knowledge community and businesses with a connection to the Corridor Manchester.

DATE: 30th November 2010
TIME: 9:00am – 1:00pm (with lunch and networking)
LOCATION: MDDA, 117-119 Portland St, Manchester, M1 6ED

TO BOOK: http://corridorconnections-bbc.eventbrite.com

What is Corridor Connections?

Corridor Connections is a two year pilot project delivered by Manchester Science Park and funded by NWDA and the Manchester Innovation Investment Fund. The project will stimulate commercial cross-sector activity on the Corridor Manchester. Corridor Connections is part of the Corridor Manchester partnership. Businesses on the Corridor will benefit from creating innovative collaborations with other Corridor companies/organisations, as well as national and international organisations. For further information please contact the project team at: Corridor@mspl.co.uk, Tel.0161 2324594 Or visit our website www.corridorconnections.co.uk

Jackie Potter, chief executive, Corridor Manchester said: “The installation of the new fibre optic cables will create a new infrastructure on the Corridor that will not only deliver much faster broadband speeds but through the open access network allow organisations, businesses and even individuals develop and test their own ideas for uses of the new technology without being held back by current limitations.”

The most immediate impact for people living and working on the Corridor will be much faster broadband capacity of 100 Megabits per second (Mbps) and more, critically, for both download and upload uses.  Users will be able to buy services from different service providers on the network providing internet access, TV, telephone and other data services too, as the new network will be genuinely “open access” allowing all service providers to lease the optical fibre from Geo to provide services to their customers.  There is also potential for services and applications to be made available for free without having to go through an internet service provider.

The Corridor network project is managed by MDDA and funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).  Once the first phase of fibre installation is completed, it is already planned to expand the fibre optic network to east Manchester and elsewhere in the city by using both the existing and planned Metrolink lines.

Damien Bourke, policy & partnership manager for NWDA, said: “This is the first step on a journey to help make Manchester an increasingly competitive international city – a city in which businesses can find new and sustainable markets which in turn will help drive the regional economy. What better place to start this process than the Oxford Road area, where next generation fibre broadband will only generate further wealth from the people, ideas and innovation that make the Corridor a unique place to do business.”

Geo was awarded the contract in December 2009 following a successful tender to deliver the first phase of the fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network in partnership with Manchester City Council (through MDDA).  The initial phase will provide connectivity to 200 homes and businesses around the Corridor area of Manchester.

Geo is expected to start the first phase of network deployment in the spring.  Further connections directly to 1500 homes and businesses, will be phased over the next 12 months.

Chris Smedley, chief executive, Geo said: “Geo is delighted to be working with Corridor Manchester and the MDDA to deliver this important infrastructure. Creating a true open access network with next generation fibre broadband capable of fully symmetrical world – leading broadband services will radically change the way people use the internet for business and social use.  Geo’s unique business model is ideally suited to helping the UK to meet the challenge of building the new networks needed for the country to compete on the global stage and we are proud to be associated with this landmark initiative.

Update:

How to register your interest in getting connected

The NextGen Euro conference was aimed at giving practical examples of best practice fibre networks from across Europe. The event gathered together some of the foremost examples of FTTH development presented by leading experts.

The Keynote videos above currently feature [1st July 2009]:

Welcome speech by Dave Carter [Head - Manchester Digital Development Agency]

Amsterdam fibre after two years: problems & fails, lessons learned, successes and how all things end well – Dirk van der Woude, City-Net Project, City of Amsterdam

Thomas Lecker – FTTH [Fibre To The Home] in Germany

Benoît Felten (video interview) – an overview of European fibre deployments

The future ain’t what it used to be: perspectives on investing in fibre – James Enck – Analyst, investor, blogger and journalist.

NextGen 09 Conference, welcome & opening speech by Sir Richard Leese [Leader, Manchester City Council]

THIS EVENT WAS CO-FINANCED BY THE DIGITAL CITIES [INTERREG] PROJECT

Visit the Digital Cities website

Visit the INTERREG website