World-class connectivity. A uniqueopportunity for your business.The benefits of Open Access Broadband at Baltic Business Quarter.

Foreword

Perhaps you’re thinking ofstarting a new business.Maybe you want to set up anew regional office. Orperhaps you’re expandingyour global footprint.

If your business is growing,then you need to know aboutthe connectivity now availablein Gateshead.

On the banks of the Tyne, GatesheadBaltic Business Quarter is a businesslocation like no other in the UK. At theheart of this £300 million venture, withits incredible 1.5 million square feet ofoffice space, lies a stunning world-classasset: a vast, fibre optic broadbandnetwork.

The network is among the most powerfulin the world. Delivering up to a massive10 Gigabytes of bandwidth, it is designedto support businesses of all types and sizes- from innovative new media companies,software developers and retailers, toservice providers and blue chipcompanies of international standing.

The huge bandwidth and speed can givea real competitive edge to any business.Multimedia conferencing, streamingvideo, IP telephony, file sharing andmore will be rapid and simple. The mostdemanding storage needs will besupported with ease. And importantly -because it is an Open Access BroadbandNetwork - the connectivity is designedto be very affordable.

What’s more, plans are underway toextend this super-fast connectivitybeyond Baltic Business Quarter, tobenefit even more local businesses andresidents in the area.

In this brochure, you’ll learn more aboutthe facilities at this unique businesslocation. You’ll discover the business andsocial benefits of next-generationconnectivity. And you’ll learn about thethriving Gateshead and Newcastle area,and what it has to offer you and yourbusiness.

The opportunity awaits.

2 World-class connectivity. A unique opportunity for your business / G-ti

Councillor Mick Henry, Leader, Gateshead Council

What is Baltic Business Quarter?

Baltic Business Quarter is astate-of-the-art businesslocation, which is beingdeveloped to benefitGateshead’s businesscommunity and attract neworganisations to the area.With excellent public transportservices and links to thebroader UK transportnetwork, Baltic BusinessQuarter positions Gatesheadto compete effectively in theinternational business arena.

Working together, developers TerraceHill and architects Red Box Design havecreated and implemented a master planwhich delivers up to 1.5 million squarefeet of urban office accommodation atthe Quarter. Less than 1,400 metres fromNewcastle city centre, 1,000 metres fromthe central railway station and evencloser to Gateshead centre, the site offers21 hectares of prime urban land. Thisunique inner-city location will ultimatelyincorporate 40 buildings and create up to7,000 jobs.

G-ti / World-class connectivity. A unique opportunity for your business 3

Instead of usingcommunications services fromestablished providers, BalticBusiness Quarter benefits froman entirely new, super-high-bandwidth network. This wasbuilt by Gateshead TechnologyInnovation (G-ti), a partnershipbetween Gateshead Counciland leading network providerAlcatel-Lucent, to give youcost-effective access to thevery latest communicationsservices.

The new fibre-optic infrastructure is anOpen Access Broadband Network(OABN). It is termed ‘open’ because anyservice provider in the region can use itto deliver broadband services to localbusinesses - increasing competition, andgiving you world-class IT andcommunications at the best possibleprices.

By building the network with Alcatel-Lucent, Gateshead Council has achievedparity with the best connected areas ofthe UK.

World-class connectivity

4 World-class connectivity. A unique opportunity for your business / G-ti

G-ti / World-class connectivity. A unique opportunity for your business 5

THE BENEFITSSpecifically, the network will enable youto deploy a range of applications toimprove communications withinternational employees, partners, officesand customers. This might include videoconferencing, which provides a face-to-face meeting experience for geographicallydistributed employees, or sharedworkspaces where large files can beupdated by distributed teams in real time.

In addition to this, the new BalticBusiness Quarter network will provideextremely high bandwidth to support theneeds of high-tech companies such assoftware developers, media organisations,major blue chip companies and retailers.

Using the state-of-the-art networkinfrastructure, service providers candeliver a range of benefits to yourbusiness, including:

• Massive bandwidthYou can deploy a whole range ofcutting-edge applications, to helpyour business communicate andcompete more effectively

• Low usage costIncreased competition amongservice providers ensures you getbest service levels for the best price

• Collaborative workingAccess to audio and videoconferencing applications canimprove communications, reducingthe need for business travel

• Near 100% reliabilityHigh availability ensures you canmaximise productivity and keepworking at all times

• Business agilityYou can increase or decreasebandwidth easily, and changeservice providers without incurringmajor costs

• Dynamic bandwidth allocationBy increasing or decreasingbandwidth as you need, you payonly for the communicationsservices you use

• Flexible workingThis connectivity will reach out intothe Gateshead community, enablingseamless home and flexible workingfor Baltic Business Quarter workersthat live locally

• Competitive advantageBy accessing a wide range of next-generation applications, you cancompete more effectively on aglobal basis

• Even faster connectivity for thefutureThe infrastructure could be capableof delivering speeds in the region of40 Gigabytes, should the demandbe there in the future.

Cutting-edge connectivity in the community

Importantly, this connectivity is not intended for Baltic Business Quarter alone.Plans are underway to extend it across the Gateshead area, bringing significantbenefits to even more local businesses and residents.

The connectivity can support working from home, for example, giving staffaccess to the same connectivity and applications that they use in the office. Itcan support online education and distance learning, enabling people whoare unable to attend schools and colleges to continue studying and improvetheir employment opportunities. And it can support next-generation e-healthcare services, such as applications that monitor the health of elderlypeople and help them stay in their own homes for longer.

The possibilities are many, varied and very exciting indeed.

6 World-class connectivity. A unique opportunity for your business / G-ti

Gateshead is buzzing withconfidence and pride in thewake of a cultural andeconomic renaissance. Just aten minute walk from itspartner city Newcastle, theregional capital of North EastEngland, the local area offersresidents and visitors a livelyarts scene, exciting events,nationally recognised parksand breathtaking countryside.

Baltic Business Quarter is in a primeposition overlooking Gateshead Quaysand Newcastle Quayside, offeringspectacular views of The SageGateshead, BALTIC Centre forContemporary Art and the award-winning Gateshead Millennium Bridge.With contemporary waterfront bars andrestaurants, great shopping and a lively

atmosphere close at hand, it’s easy to seewhy Gateshead is attracting companiesfrom far and wide.

After all, what’s good for motivation andimage must be good for business.

THE BEST LOCATION FOR YOUR BUSINESSBy virtue of this stunning city-centrelocation, Baltic Business Quarter offersyou and your organisation a wide rangeof benefits. These include:

• Great places for clients andcolleagues to stay and eat

• Fast, easy ways to get to work• Excellent links with the UK

transport network • Easy access to a large international

airport• Attractive, innovative working

environments

Why Gateshead for your business?

G-ti / World-class connectivity. A unique opportunity for your business 7

If you would like to know more about how your business couldbenefit from this next-generation broadband network, contact +44 (0)191 490 9170, email enquiries@g-ti.net or visit www.g-ti.net.

Be part of it

About Gateshead Technology Innovation

Gateshead Technology Innovation (G-ti) is a joint venture betweenGateshead Council and Alcatel-Lucent, one of the world’s leadingtelecommunications companies. Together, they have built a high-capacity,fully resilient open access network to serve Baltic Business Quarter. As well asminimising the cost of communications for organisations in Gateshead, theinfrastructure will support a range of next-generation services, from videoconferencing and data storage to rich media streaming and disaster recovery.

With built-in resilience of a standard that is available in only a very fewlocations across the UK and worldwide, the network will enable knowledge-based businesses to locate to Baltic Business Quarter - safe in the knowledgethat they can operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

All logos are the property of their respective owners and are used with consent. The information

presented is subject to change without notice. Gateshead Technology Innovation assumes no

responsibility for inaccuracies contained herein. Copyright @ 2009 Gateshead Technology Innovation.

All rights reserved. May 2009.

G-ti Technology Solutions Partner