Gateshead Council has deployed a high speed broadband fibre network offering its business quarter speeds of up to 10Gb per second.

The network, known as G-ti, will be open access so any service provider can deliver any application to users. Gateshead Council hopes the speed and quality of the network will bring businesses to the area and encourage innovative start-ups.

Council lead Mick Henry said: "Gateshead Council is delighted to be at the forefront of broadband technology and leading the way by being the first
local authority to go live with a project like this."

The Council envisages businesses offering services such as video conferencing, video on demand, streaming media, data storage, disaster recovery and image processing could be interested.

The network was developed in partnership with Alcatel-Lucent and the Community Broadband Network which helps develop local broadband schemes.

"G-ti is a great project, adding to the growing patchwork of next generation broadband initiatives around the country," said Malcolm Corbett, chief executive of the Community Broadband Network.

The government estimates that up to a third of the country does not have access to super fast broadband and is instigating a 50p levy on phone bills to provide universal coverage.

The Conservatives have promised to abolish the levy should they win power next year.

A number of local projects have sprung up to fill the market gap in the third of homes and business not currently being reached, including projects in Bournemoth, Dundee and Northampton.