Boost for Sheffield broadband company ahead of £20m factory project

Globe Telecom is using Curvalux systems to cover 39 areas of the country and plans to expand to 315 more within the year.

“We are very positive that Curvalux will help us answer the ever-growing demand for connectivity and wider coverage especially in areas where Globe is much needed,” said Darius Delgado, head of broadband business.

The partnership is a major endorsement for the Sheffield company which uses masts to connect remote communities to the internet.

Last year, the firm accepted an £8m taxpayer-funded grant from the Sheffield City Region to set up shop in South Yorkshire. Curvalux plans to open a £20m factory close to the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, part of Sheffield University, creating 200 jobs.

It is currently based in the Electric Works office near the central bus station.

Nir Barkan, UK chief executive, previously said the South Yorkshire factory would serve the UK and the US where more than 20m households had poor internet speeds or were using expensive satellite connections.

The Sheffield City Region has made several large grants to clinch inward investors including £12m to McLaren and £5m to Boeing.

It has just handed a £1.5m grant to South Yorkshire sports brand SBD Apparel. The firm is set to create 237 jobs at a £9m new factory despite a drop in sales due to Covid.

SBD Apparel had intended to fund the move with cash reserves and 2020 profits.

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Thank you. Nancy Fielder, editor.