Workstream
Digitally connected places and people
It's essential that everyone in our city region can thrive in the digital age - a new industrial revolution powered by artificial intelligence.
As we enter a new industrial revolution, shaped by advances in artificial intelligence (AI), it’s essential that everyone in our city region can thrive in the digital age.
Greater Manchester will be a fully digitally enabled region, which means using digital technology in ways that make things quicker and easier to achieve our ambitions. We are committed to using technology and data proactively and responsibly, giving people the connectivity, tools and know-how to work and live smarter.
We’ll do this by ending the digital divide, helping more people to get online and working to remove barriers like connectivity, confidence, skills, affordability and accessibility.
By 2030 all areas of Greater Manchester will benefit from next generation gigabit-capable broadband and 5G coverage, with support to get online available in every neighbourhood. We’ll also grow community Wifi support and keep working to remove cost and connectivity barriers for low-income households.
Growing our digitally enabled public services will also continue at pace. We’ll ramp up responsible AI adoption, working with Government, industry and academia to be the place to come to test and grow AI businesses.
Together we will explore the best ways to use AI to improve our public services
Our track record of delivery
We’re busy connecting our city region to prepare it for a digital future
2,700km of fibre connecting over 1,500 public sector sites, transforming connectivity speeds to schools, libraries, fire stations, etc.; £3.6m in social value has been generated.
Over 95,000 children’s Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) development assessments have been made through a new app.
Over 62,000 people have been helped to get online with free data SIMs since 2023, through more than 320 Greater Manchester Databanks.
Our Care Record has been accessed by over 21,000 medical staff monthly; 280,000 patient records are accessed each month.
92.4% of our city region is covered by gigabit broadband; the national average is 84%.