£30m LCR Connect celebrates 1,000th connection
More than 32,000 businesses now have access to Liverpool City Region’s partially publicly owned full-fibre network, which first went live last year.
LCR Connect is a £30m project from Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, construction company NGE, and telecommunications firm ITS Technology Group. It provides reliable, gigabyte-capable connections to a mix of SMEs and national brands.
Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, SciTech Daresbury, M&S Bank Arena, and National Museums Liverpool are some of the venues and organisations linked up to LCR Connect already. The network has now achieved its 1,000th connection.
“Reaching this milestone is a great achievement and shows that businesses large and small are choosing LCR Connect because it gives them the speed, resilience, and reliability they need to compete,” said Daren Baythorpe, chief executive of ITS.
“From legal firms and creative agencies to stadiums and museums, we’re seeing the benefits ripple right across the region,” he continued.
“Resilient fibre plays an essential role in the very fabric of modern business, underpinning the services, systems, and experiences that organisations rely on every day.”
The combined authority owns half of the 350-kilometre network, which stretches across all six boroughs. The CA’s profits from the venture are reinvested into the local area. When LCR Connect became operational last year, it was predicted to boost the region’s economy by £1bn.
City region Mayor Steve Rotheram said that LCR Connect was indicative of the area’s appetite for innovation.
“The Liverpool City Region is forward-thinking, dynamic, and ahead of the curve when it comes to critical infrastructure,” Rotheram said.
“LCR Connect is not just about faster internet speeds – it’s about creating the foundations for businesses and communities to thrive in a digital world.”
He added: “Reaching 1,000 connections is proof that this network is delivering real results and real impact for our economy. This is digital connectivity that goes beyond broadband connection. I’d encourage any local businesses or organisations who aren’t already signed up to seriously look into all the benefits.”
