EE has teamed up with Tech City in an initiative that will see the communications firm provide its latest and greatest innovations, including the just-launched 300Mbps 4G network, directly to the hub's 1,300 resident entrepreneurs, SMBs and start-ups.
The partnership, officially launched today by Prime Minister David Cameron, will lay the foundation for other such prioritised tech cluster support around the country.
We are competing in a global race and I am absolutely determined to make Britain the best place in the world in which to start and grow a business.
The idea behind the union is to enable Tech City's companies to grow and compete more effectively in the global market, supported by a reliable and modern IT backbone, according to EE.
The firm said it has pumped $3.6 million into the existing Tech City network in the past six months and, building on current double-speed 4G connectivity in the area, the hub will now benefit from EE's 300Mbps 4G network, which was also switched on today. The superfast service will also be activated in other locations and made available to a wider range of business from 2014, EE confirmed.
"We are competing in a global race and I am absolutely determined to make Britain the best place in the world in which to start and grow a business. The world of business is changing rapidly and one of the most promising opportunities for new jobs and growth lies within a new wave of high growth, highly innovative digital businesses," Cameron said.
"As well as backing the businesses of today we are also backing the businesses of the future and in just three years we have seen London become a leading centre for innovation, helping to drive our economic recovery."
In addition to access to its high-speed 4G network, EE has launched a small business mentoring programme, support packages to help them get up and running quickly, as well as exposing APIs to enable developers to accelerate the design, development and marketing of next-generation products and services.
"Game-changing investments such as EE's 300Mbps network will catalyse the next wave of innovation and creativity in digital, creative and technology businesses. It will allow them to connect to new markets around the world and supports the growth of our brightest and best businesses," said Joanna Shields, CEO of Tech City.
Olaf Swantee, CEO of EE, added: "By pioneering 4G innovation in the UK, we want to help British businesses switch on and start up... The 300Mbps service will be commercially rolled out in 2014 and means British businesses here in Tech City and across the UK will be able to steal a march on their competitors in Silicon Valley, Korea and Japan.
"These nationwide tech clusters have seen the emergence of like-minded, future-thinking businesses that have been built by fusing technology and creativity to become the employers and growth engines of the future and we're looking forward to playing a part in supporting their success," he added.
