The competition to deliver South Yorkshire’s next generation broadband revolution is hotting up with three bidders competing for this landmark project.

Three of the five remaining shortlisted bidders have joined forces to form a consortium, providing a strong challenge to fellow bidders BT, and BSkyB’s Easynet. The consortium bid is being led by Thales Telecommunication Services Ltd, alongside Alcatel Telecom Ltd, and Kingston Communications.

Graeme Dent, Director of the Digital Region Project said: “This is an exciting development in the procurement process, and illustrates the industry’s commitment to putting together competitive and robust bids.”

The Digital Region project is supported by a partnership of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Sheffield City Council, and regional development agency -Yorkshire Forward and Objective One.

The project has the potential to become the largest open-access broadband infrastructure platform in the world - transforming the broadband provision for the whole of South Yorkshire, by enabling advanced applications at home, in business and across the public sector.

This initiative supports the ongoing economic regeneration across South Yorkshire.