Podcasts
John Duncan, Connected Places Lead for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, talks about a new strategy to build a “growth zone” for AI.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
John Duncan, Connected Places Lead for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, solves connectivity issues for the largest metropolitan area in Northern England.
Recently, at Connected Britain in London, Duncan appeared on Beyond the Cable, a Broadband Communities podcast, to discuss the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s cutting-edge work to better connect the area’s nearly 3 million residents.
Leading strategic policy initiatives for Greater Manchester, Duncan said he works extensively with fiber and mobile providers to make sure network investments are filling inclusion gaps.
Additionally, Duncan said he works to make sure connectivity is affordable for the citizens of Greater Manchester.
Greater Manchester is aiming for 100% coverage by 2030, according to Duncan.
“We’ve got a great relationship with the providers, and we do a lot of collaboration and partnership work,” he said. “We also have something called the GM One Network, which is the largest metropolitan public-sector network in Europe.”
Duncan said the network includes over 3,000 kilometers (over 1,800 miles) of fiber, connecting vital public services.
Driving a new wave of AI growth
The digital infrastructure in Greater Manchester has also laid the foundation for economic growth, Duncan said.
As such, Duncan said the Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s new strategy to become a “growth zone” for AI has become a big focus of his lately.
“We’ve got the largest cluster of AI businesses in the UK outside of London,” he said. “So, we’re doing some great work already.”
Not lost, however, is leveraging the growth in Manchester to better impact citizen access to services like healthcare. He said sustainable growth also remains a priority.
Click here to hear the full interview with Duncan on Spotify!
Using energy efficiently, implementing the use of renewable energy, and examining issues around water use are all part of concerns Duncan has to manage as Greater Manchester seeks to attract new AI growth, including data centers.
He said he’s consulting with infrastructure providers, energy suppliers, water suppliers, and environmental agencies to make sure Greater Manchester’s vision considers a mix of competing demands.
Duncan said he considers Greater Manchester a leader, though he works collaboratively with other city regions like Liverpool, West Yorkshire, London, and Glasgow, who he said are also doing great work.
“I don’t see us as in a competition,” he said, adding that Greater Manchester is always interested in learning from others.
As for when he’ll know his mission is accomplished, Duncan said he doesn’t know if there’s a definitive answer, but if Greater Manchester can get all citizens connected and supported, then he said he’ll have accomplished a key component of the larger mission.