Digital Region

Digital Region Limited Appoint New Expert to Lead Digital Revolution

Digital Region Ltd has appointed a further telecommunications expert to lead the digital revolution in South Yorkshire. Lowry Stanage will be Deputy Chair to the recently appointed Maureen Donnelly. The Digital Region network will be the first of its kind in the UK, offering bandwidth speeds in the region of 25Mbit/s and enabling the delivery of new and innovative services to the general public, local businesses and to the public sector. Lowry has over 40 years' experience in the telecommunications industry.

For the last 10 years he worked abroad in Germany and Belgium and was latterly responsible for all of BT's Global Networks. Over a three year period Lowry significantly reduced the annual network cash demand, thus making a major contribution to BT's Global Business turnaround. His wider experience of the industry and, in particular, fibre infrastructure and IP technologies will make a significant contribution to the DRL Board.

In his new role, Lowry will support Maureen Donnelly. His responsibilities will include providing strategic direction to Digital Region Ltd, and ensuring that it supports South Yorkshire's economic priorities. He will also act as an ambassador for both Digital Region Ltd and South Yorkshire as a whole.

Lowry Stanage comments: "I am delighted to join Digital Region Ltd. This is a truly groundbreaking project that will provide a major boost to South Yorkshire's economy, attracting investment and providing a wealth of opportunities for businesses."

Maureen Donnelly, Chair of Digital Region Ltd, comments: "We're really looking forward to working with Lowry. His experience and expertise in this sector will further strengthen Digital Region Ltd, and enable the project to bring maximum benefits to the South Yorkshire area."

Digital Region Ltd is wholly owned by Yorkshire Forward and the four local authorities of South Yorkshire; Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield. Once in place the network will bring speeds in the region of 25Mbit/s broadband to over 97% of the region, including 550,000 homes and 1.3 million people. The four South Yorkshire local authorities and Yorkshire Forward attracted European, regional, local and private investment of over £90 million, including £30 million from the European Regional Development Fund. Thales UK will be responsible for building, managing and developing the network. Building work began recently and, with a phased implementation programme, will be completed in around three years and cover the entire South Yorkshire region.