Virgin Media joins forces with the Tameside Digital Infrastructure Cooperative

The TDIC, which is soon to become the Digital Infrastructure Cooperative as its reach extends beyond Tameside, is working with partner organisations to build a new, advanced digital network to serve public sector, businesses and citizens. 

The Cooperative offers its members access to a variety of digital assets allowing them to build and operate advanced digital connectivity services. 

Private sector members are able to use TDIC facilities to create advanced internet and telecommunications services for both businesses and consumers in the region, whilst membership of the TDIC allows public sector members to improve services and save costs.

Network builders and investors can use over 40km of the TDIC’s fibre spine network to make better use of investment funds and accelerate deployment.

Virgin Media’s dedicated, ultrafast network delivers the fastest widely-available broadband speeds to homes and businesses across the UK and Ireland. The company, through backing from its parent company Liberty Global, is investing to expand its network to millions more homes and businesses as part of the Project Lightning expansion programme.

Tony Reddington, Virgin Media’s Project Lightning Build Director, said:

“I am very much looking forward to working with the Tameside Digital Infrastructure Cooperative and supporting its aims to maximise the availability of high capacity digital infrastructure across the region . Having overseen recent Project Lightning investment in Tameside, including the expansion of our fibre network to over 7,000 premises in Hurst, I am passionate about supporting the region’s digital ambitions.”

Minister for Digital Margot James said:

“As part of our Local Full Fibre Networks Programme, Government has invested over £2m in unlocking Public Infrastructure in Tameside for wider commercial use. We are delighted to see the Digital Infrastructure Co-Operative improving the availability of Gigabit capable infrastructure locally and strengthening the case for it to be adopted as a model by other Local Authorities across the UK.”

Councillor Bill Fairfoull, Deputy Leader of Tameside Councillor, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Virgin Media to the Digital Infrastructure Cooperative which is continuing to go from strength to strength and I am sure that they will quickly reap the benefits that working in a mutual way can bring. 

“Virgin Media is already making significant investments in fibre to the premise in Tameside and we are hoping that having ready access to the Coop’s extensive dark fibre network, will make further investments from them economically viable.

~The Cooperative, which is only a little over 12 months old, can now count a growing number of high profile national telecommunications operators, as well as leading local fibre operators in its membership. I am sure that Virgin Media’s reputation in the market along with their wealth of experience will help encourage other service providers and other local authority areas to join.”