Despite Crawley’s strong economic performance, parts of the town have historically lacked access to modern digital infrastructure. This new network will directly address this, as well as findings from the 2022 Manor Royal BID Survey, which identified poor broadband speeds as the most significant issue facing local businesses.

Once built, businesses will be able to choose from a wide range of gigabit-capable full fibre services through ITS’s service provider partners. The project will help deliver on the Towns Fund’s aims to boost economic growth through regeneration, improved transport, faster digital connectivity, and the development of local skills and culture.

Through ITS’s social value programme, the project will support existing local sustainability initiatives and introduce new activities aimed at bridging the digital divide. This includes digital skills training, community engagement, and support for underserved groups to ensure that the benefits of full fibre connectivity are felt across the town.

Michael Jones, Leader of Crawley Borough Council, said:

“This project is in direct response to what our business community told us they needed. It’s a great example of how public and private sector expertise and investment can come together to deliver real, lasting impact.

“Crawley’s proximity to Gatwick Airport and its excellent transport links make it attractive to businesses locating to the area. The new network will help to ensure Crawley continues to attract both established industries and emerging sectors.”

Steve Sawyer, Executive Director, Manor Royal BID, said:

“Manor Royal is one of the UK’s largest business parks, home to more than 700 businesses, with around 30,000 people working here. When the BID was first created in 2013, the park was struggling, and broadband was one of the biggest issues holding us back. Getting superfast connectivity made a huge difference, but companies are now demanding more.

“We are excited by this announcement and the transformative investment being made in this new full fibre network. It will give every business access to high-quality, futureproof connectivity at an affordable price. It won’t just be the preserve of those who can afford to buy bespoke solutions – it will deliver the speeds and reliability that a modern business park like Manor Royal needs to thrive.”

Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS, said:

“Crawley is a thriving hub of enterprise and innovation, and we’re proud to be the trusted partner delivering the next-generation digital infrastructure it needs to stay ahead. This full fibre rollout will provide future-proof connectivity for businesses of all sizes, driving sustainable growth and long-term competitiveness across the region.

“But it’s not just about technology – it’s also about people. Our social value programme ensures that the benefits of this investment extend beyond business, empowering local communities and helping more people access the opportunities of an increasingly digital world.”

The contract, which will see ITS move into South Wales for the first time, aligns with the programme’s goal to create a smart region ready to innovate and adopt emerging technologies, ensuring an inclusive digital landscape that meets everyone’s needs.

This significant investment will serve 41 dark fibre connections across 34 strategic public sector sites in Carmarthenshire, connecting education, health and local authorities. The project includes key partners Carmarthenshire County Council, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Hywel Dda University Health Board, and Coleg Sir Gar.

The new network will connect sites and data centres to store, move, and share large quantities of data securely at ultra-high speed. This will improve the collaboration between these organisations, enabling them to use advanced technology and applications such as AI, and share and analyse data in real-time. It will also underpin innovative ways of working and enable more data-driven decision making, having the capacity to flexibly meet the evolving needs of the sectors and the delivery of modern public services.

It aims to deliver positive community impact, prioritising digital inclusion, tackling inequalities, and limiting environmental impact. Digital Champions in each local authority will work with industry, government, and poorly connected communities to support the delivery of the programme at a local level.

In addition to securing the contract award, ITS will invest in a wholesale full fibre network that mirrors the dark fibre route and extends beyond it to pass more than 2,800 businesses. This private investment will enable access to gigabit-capable services, significantly enhancing the area’s digital infrastructure. It will foster greater market choice, offering highly resilient, business-grade connectivity to both local partners and end-user organisations.

Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS said:

“We are thrilled to have been successful in this tender process which will see us play a pivotal role in transforming the area’s digital landscape. As our first public sector contract in South Wales, this is a fantastic milestone for us and one that will provide the foundation for a connected future for the region, driving innovation and prosperity for the entire community.

“ITS has a strong track record of working with the public sector to deliver connectivity solutions that benefit local businesses and communities, putting social value at the heart of each project. This type of innovation aligns perfectly with the Digital Infrastructure Programme’s objectives, providing a platform for economic growth and bridging the digital divide.”

Cllr. Philip Hughes, Cabinet Member for Organisation and Workforce at Carmarthenshire County Council said:

“This announcement marks a significant advancement in equipping our public sector services to meet future demands. By aligning with the Digital Infrastructure Programme’s objectives, this project will underpin the expanding needs of digital services in our communities, which rely on having effective, secure, and high-capacity infrastructure.

“Not only will it enhance the quality and reliability of services for communities across the county, but it will also act as a catalyst for further investment into digital infrastructure. This investment will foster innovation and economic growth, helping to ensure that Carmarthenshire is able to benefit from technological advancements.”

ITS is at the forefront of next-generation connectivity, with its entire full fibre network built on XGS-PON technology – enabling scalable, high-capacity services. In a UK-first, ITS has successfully trialled dedicated internet access over 50G-PON in both lab and live business environments. This breakthrough marks a significant milestone for the UK fibre market, offering a more sustainable and efficient way to deliver ultra-fast services using existing fibre infrastructure and reducing the need for additional equipment.

Demonstrating its continued commitment to South Wales, ITS has strengthened its regional presence with the appointment of Stephen Dobynne, Client Director for the Public Sector, to the Private Sector Advisory Board of the South West Wales Corporate Joint Committee (SWWCJC).

For more information on this or improving the connectivity in your area, get in touch with your local Digital Champion.

A clear message is taking shape among public and private sector leaders: to unlock Local London’s digital potential, we need stronger collaboration, clearer national policy, and a louder, united voice to put the sub-region’s priorities on the map.

That was a standout takeaway from a recent cross-sector conversation hosted jointly by ITS — operator of the UK’s largest dedicated business-grade full fibre network – and local authority group, Local London. The session brought together senior voices from local government, industry, and regional organisations to explore how digital infrastructure can drive economic growth, improve public services, and deliver inclusive opportunity across Local London.

Local London — a sub-regional partnership of nine boroughs — is home to 2.6 million residents and 100,000 businesses, making it larger than the cities of Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool combined. It is also London’s fastest-growing area, yet investment in digital infrastructure has not kept pace. More than 114,000 homes and businesses across the boroughs still lack access to gigabit-capable connectivity.

The discussion revealed a sub-region rich in opportunity — from emerging AI clusters and creative industries to data centre development and smart city ambitions. But these strengths are held back by fragmented infrastructure planning, a mismatch between digital policy and service delivery, and misconceptions at national level about London’s true coverage. Without targeted support and coordinated action, boroughs in east London risk missing out on the digital infrastructure needed to compete and grow.

Above all, attendees stressed the need for a unified narrative. While many boroughs are leading valuable local initiatives, leaders agreed that a more compelling, collective story must be told — one that links digital infrastructure directly to wider outcomes in education, skills, mobility, housing, and innovation.

This shared voice, they argued, is essential to unlocking national recognition and securing the long-term investment needed to drive fair, sustainable growth.

The conversation built on the ambitions set out in the Fair Economic Growth through Digital Connectivity paper from Thames Estuary Growth Board, which positions the region as the UK’s next AI and digital powerhouse. Sharing geography and ambitions with the Thames Estuary, participants supported the report’s call for bold public-private collaboration to accelerate progress across the region.

Local London is seeking investment across its boroughs to:

• provide ubiquitous gigabit capable broadband services to all residents and businesses in the sub-region by in-filling existing gaps in service availability. 
• deliver dark fibre and high-speed business connectivity services to growth areas, business parks and data centres to drive economic growth and regeneration.

“There is real opportunity across this part of London and the wider Estuary corridor,” said Daren Baythorpe, CEO of ITS. “The boroughs that make up Local London have the scale, the ambition, and the economic weight to help lead the UK’s digital future — but this can only be realised if we get the right infrastructure in place. We were pleased to support a conversation focused on moving forward, together.”

Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, Chair of Local London’s Growth and Recovery Board that leads on digital and Mayor of Newham, reinforced this direction:

“Digital inclusion is vital for people in our boroughs. Yet across Local London there are over 100,000 premises with no or only the lowest level of digital connectivity and this is curtailing opportunities for people and businesses.

That’s why we are committed to working with private and public sector partners to close this digital divide. It is only through wide collaboration and appropriate investment that we will bring high-speed connectivity to east London, and out into the Thames Estuary. This is fundamental for digital inclusion and our joint vision to lead the UK’s AI and digital future.”

ITS remains committed to supporting Local London’s ambitions — by convening conversation, sharing delivery insight, and contributing to the infrastructure required to build a more connected, resilient, and inclusive future.

Awarded in July 2023, this agreement allows the public sector, associated bodies and agencies, the voluntary sector, charities, and other private organisations acting as procurement or managing agents on behalf of the public sector to access connectivity services, enabling site-to-site or site-to-cloud interconnectivity from ITS.

I am delighted that we have been named as a supplier on the highly competitive NS3 framework. Our team and our infrastructure are already trusted by many public sector organisations, including local authorities, healthcare, and blue light services.

Helping communities thrive is about more than just delivering a high-quality service; we immerse ourselves fully in the needs of our public sector projects and organisations, including deriving growth, inclusivity, and sustainability.

Being on this framework is testament to the hard work and expertise of the team. It allows us to widen our commitment and opportunity to drive the delivery of futureproof services to public sector, charities, and third sector customers, now removing the procurement barriers that have prevented some organisations from being able to buy our solutions in the past.

Andy Bell, Head of Public Sector at ITS Technology Group

ITS has invested heavily into its public sector capabilities and expertise. It has a strong track record having forged a number of groundbreaking strategic private public partnerships with local authorities and other organisations across the country. These include flagship joint ventures with the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and DG Cities in the Royal Borough of Greenwich to deliver transformational full fibre infrastructure and services to support their digital ambitions.

By using the latest full fibre technology (XGS PON), not only do ITS connectivity solutions support multi-gigabit symmetrical speeds, they are also far more energy efficient and sustainable. The firm’s ‘dig once’ approach to reusing existing ducts to install the fibre optic cables wherever possible reduces the environmental impact of building infrastructure, as well as the disruption to local communities associated with these types of engineering projects.

Crown Commercial Service supports the public sector to achieve maximum commercial value when procuring common goods and services. In 2022/23, CCS helped the public sector to achieve commercial benefits equal to £3.8 billion – supporting world-class public services that offer best value for taxpayers.

To learn more about how we can support your Public Sector infrastructure, visit: /partner-with-us/public-sector/