Hereford Enterprise Zone Communications Services

Tender description

Skylon Park Enterprise Zone and the existing Rotherwas Business Park form a strategically important employment site for Herefordshire. The Rotherwas site currently provides employment for over 2,500 people; the Enterprise Zone is expected to provide a further 4,000 jobs. The existing businesses on the Rotherwas site are already suffering from inadequate broadband services. Improving access to appropriate broadband connectivity is seen as essential to the sustainability of existing businesses on the site, and essential to establishing the site as an Enterprise Zone. Access to superfast and ultrafast broadband is considered essential to attract businesses to the Enterprise Zone. A commercial service provider is now required to provide the necessary commercial and support services to allow communications services providers to utilise the Open Access Duct Infrastructure to deliver broadband services to businesses on the Skylon Park site. The commercial service provider will be required to enter into a Joint Venture agreement with the Council for the delivery of broadband services on the site. The Joint Venture will be operated and funded under the Market Economy Investor Principle.