Spanning the six local authorities of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral, this new 212km digital infrastructure is designed to deliver a next level gigabit full-fibre service to all businesses across the city region, and Nxcoms have been appointed as approved partners for the project. The work is being completed at pace, with 80km already built, and the whole network is due for completion by the end of 2022 and early 2023.

Nxcoms’ Managing Director Andy Thompson said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be chosen as approved partners on this scheme designed to help all businesses across the Liverpool city region. It’s so important for companies to understand that the government’s promise of 100% Gigabit capability delivered by 2025 can only be achieved by a fully-fibre infrastructure. This means that any business that currently relies on old copper-based broadband and telephone systems will need to change to the new system as soon as possible.

“The advantages for a business to change now is not simply to keep their systems functioning when the copper-based infrastructure is decommissioned in 2025, but to boost their connectivity with lightning-fast gigabit speeds. This can have a massive impact on a business. Changing their phone lines and internet access to the new Internet based services opens up so many possibilities, for example seamlessly integrating the ability for staff to work from home using a VoIP telephone system, video conferencing, or collaborating on projects.

“Changing systems can be a daunting task, but that’s where the Nxcoms team can really help. We can get a business connected to the network and online with full fibre in as little as 20 days, and with various options to suit every budget. As the customer facing element of this project, we pride ourselves on having a more personal 1-to-1 relationship with our clients, and so we help and advise them on the best way to take advantage of this new full fibre technology in their business.”

The LCR Connect project is a £30m partnership shared by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority with Chester-based ITS Technology Group and construction partner NGE. Experts estimate that with 100% full-fibre coverage across the City Region, building on this network, the economic boost could be worth up to £1bn, creating thousands of local job and training opportunities.