Quickline Communications has expanded its broadband network to a further 4,500 homes and businesses across rural West Yorkshire and the York area. This expansion is part of the government-funded Project Gigabit programme, which aims to boost the region’s economic growth and address the digital divide affecting remote areas. Communities in rural West Yorkshire and areas surrounding York, including the villages of Escrick, Crofton, Elvington, Sutton upon Derwent, and Wheldrake, can now benefit from the gigabit-capable broadband service through a £60 million government contract awarded to Quickline earlier this year.
The Project Gigabit contract will ultimately provide connections for over 28,000 hard-to-reach rural properties across the region. Thousands more are set to benefit from additional commercial rollout by Quickline. Project Gigabit targets areas that would be too expensive to connect to gigabit broadband through commercial rollout due to their remote locations.
Residents and business owners, many of whom struggle with outdated broadband infrastructure, will receive significant internet speed upgrades, providing access to gigabit-capable, full-fibre broadband. This contract is one of four awarded to Quickline, aiming to provide broadband to more than 170,000 premises across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. To date, over 1,725 premises in West Yorkshire and the York area have received access to gigabit-capable broadband through Project Gigabit funding, with additional premises delivered as part of Quickline’s commercial efforts.
Quickline is also dedicated to delivering social value across West Yorkshire.
Project Gigabit expansion in Yorkshire
The company has partnered with The Lighthouse Futures Trust in Leeds to provide digital skills workshops supporting students with learning difficulties as they transition into the workforce.
These workshops focus on essential skills such as writing emails and creating LinkedIn profiles. Additionally, Quickline participated in the Leeds Digital Festival Careers Fair, offering advice and information about employment in the telecommunications industry. The company has hosted interactive Digger Day events for primary school children to educate them about the construction of the full-fibre broadband network and its importance in their communities.
Sean Royce, CEO of Quickline, said, “We’re proud to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to rural communities in West Yorkshire and the York area through the government’s Project Gigabit programme. Our mission is to connect these areas quickly and make a lasting impact. Access to reliable broadband is essential, and we are committed to helping our customers thrive in the digital world – not only through the deployment of full fibre but also through our broader social value programme.”
Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant added, “Thousands of rural households, businesses, and students in this region can now enjoy better connectivity without having to battle for bandwidth with neighbors or other family members.
The digital divide affecting a region as rich in opportunities as Yorkshire is unacceptable. Since my appointment, I have prioritized plugging digital gaps, and the government and I have vowed to achieve nationwide gigabit coverage by 2030. It is fantastic to mark a new step towards this journey and start delivering the connectivity the region deserves to thrive and compete.”
