IX Liverpool, a not for profit internet exchange company, has teamed up with Baltic Broadband to offer a 10GB internet connection to the Baltic area, just outside the city centre. Tony McDonough reports

Businesses in Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle area are gaining access to what it’s claimed will be the fastest broadband speeds in the Liverpool city region.

Slow broadband is a common complaint among businesses in Merseyside with commerce and political leaders saying it is having an adverse impact on economic growth.

Now IX Liverpool, a not for profit internet exchange company, has teamed up with Baltic Broadband to offer a 10GB internet connection to the Baltic area, just outside the city centre, which is now home to more than 400 firms.

19th century warehouse to become Baltic digital hub – click to read more

They say they will offer the connection at “highly competitive rates” and with speeds comparable to those available in London, Cardiff and Manchester.

Local businessman and chair of IX Liverpool, Professor Matt Wilson, said: “We’ve been concerned for some time about the quality of connectivity in the Liverpool city region and so we have decided to do something about it.

“We haven’t received a penny of public money from the Government or the EU but we’ve had great support from the digital business community and we’re going from strength to strength.

“Hopefully we can help to attract more digital companies to come to Merseyside and create more jobs and investment in our future.”

IX Liverpool is now working with Liverpool and Wirral councils in order to expand the coverage of the exchange to other parts of the region beyond the city of Liverpool.

The partnership also plans to enable entire buildings that serve multiple businesses with 1GB connectivity through a scheme aimed at landlords called BBEB – Baltic Broadband Enabled Buildings.