THE race is on to seal a deal that brings “ultrafast” broadband to Hereford Enterprise Zone (HEZ).

Herefordshire Council is already out of the blocks and wants a partner to set the pace.

A joint venture bid has been signed off at cabinet level – assessed as the best of five options.

The Hereford Times has learned that two companies have already expressed an interest in the idea of a joint venture to HEZ, one with an outline proposal to commercialise investment in broadband infrastructure, the other with a high bandwidth fibre connection to the site.

Council papers identifying potential partners put BT, Virgin Media, Airband, Gigaclear, Broadway Partners, Hyperoptic, ITS Technology Group and WarwickNet among those that could “become appropriate”.

Any negotiated deal - including a business plan - would be brought back to the relevant cabinet member for approval.

HEZ is the development of around 170 acres of land at Rotherwas for hi-tech business.

As such, ultrafast broadband is a priority to counter to the zone’s recognised location disadvantages like distance from the motorway network.

Without taking action, only BT fibre to the cabinet (FTTC) and leased line services will be available.

There is commercial benefit seen in investment in related duct infrastructure without the requirement for a state aid notification - which could add significant delays.

A potential deal would see the duct infrastructure – the most expensive component - installed by the private sector partner, with an annual financial return to the council by that partner.

The basic broadband services previously available to Rotherwas is recognised as having been entirely inadequate for business use with very long ADSL lines resulting equally low bandwidth.

An open access duct infrastructure was identified as a means of making fibre based ultrafast broadband available on the site with a scheme planned over four phases to cover proposed business occupation on HEZ and the industrial estate.

The first and second phases are complete with installation costing around £300,000.

A third phase is ready to be installed while the fourth opening out the existing estate has been planned, but is not an initiative the HEZ can readily invest in as it only helps the existing estate.

This phase would be subject to the conclusion of the negotiations and will cost around £175,000.