Coventry Best 4 Business

Coventry Best for Business (B4B) has signed a three-year deal with the UK's leading internet provider to power Coventry's wireless broadband service.

BT Lynx will supply the high-speed internet, which will be free to all Business Improvement District (BID) fee payers. The £10 million venture, funded in partnership by Coventry B4B and Coventry City Council, will make the city the only one in the country to provide all its businesses with free internet. It is set to go live during August.

Mark Riddy, business development manager for BT Lynx, said: "We have completed various massive deals globally and in the UK - but this is the first time we have provided wireless internet to a whole city.

"Small, medium and large businesses are all dependent on high speed bandwidth. Ninety nine per cent of companies communicate through email and so the benefits are immense.

"This has been an exciting project for both BT Lynx and the BID and we believe Coventry B4B's framework could be a model replicated in cities everywhere in the UK."

Bob Phelps, broadband manager of Coventry B4B, said: "For businesses to thrive in the 21st century, they need to have high-speed internet access. This landmark deal will enable Coventry's business community to stay one step ahead of the competition.

"Although many companies are already reaping the benefits of the internet, a lot are still not maximising its potential as a tool to create new business and optimise efficiency.

"This is one of our major projects and we believe it will have immeasurable benefits for Coventry's businesses."