Around the globe at the speed of light

Nov 12 2009 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

SUPERFAST broadband that travels at the speed of light has connected businesses in Gateshead to the rest of the world.

The much-anticipated G-ti - Gateshead Technology Innovation went live this week connecting businesses in the borough through an ultra high speed open access fibre network.

Gateshead Council is the first local authority in England to install the world-class fibre network, in a joint venture with Alcatel-Lucent from the 21 hectare site of Baltic Business Quarter.

The network, which has been installed in the Gateshead International Business Centre, will make businesses here extra efficient and will enable them to use new technologies and applications that can put them at the forefront of the business world.

G-ti also offers an attractive and competitively priced open access to new businesses, which could potentially save them thousands of pounds in set up costs.

Leader of Gateshead Council Cllr Mick Henry said: "This joint venture with Alcatel-Lucent has been such an exciting project to have been involved with and we are proud to use fibre optic communications to connect Gateshead to the rest of the world.

"Gateshead Council is also delighted to be at the forefront of broadband technology and leading the way by being the first local authority to go live with a project like this.