Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), Cooperative Network Infrastructure (CNI) and the London Internet Exchange (LINX) have announced the formation of the Digital Infrastructure North Alliance — a collaborative initiative aimed at strengthening digital infrastructure across the North of England and making the case for greater investment in the region’s digital future.
The announcement was made at Digital Infrastructure North 2026 (DIN26), a senior-level summit convened by the three organisations together with Manchester Digital, bringing together public sector leaders, infrastructure operators, technology companies and research organisations at Circle Square, Manchester.
Why this matters
The UK’s digital infrastructure — its internet exchanges, data centres and high-capacity networks — remains heavily concentrated in London and the South East. This creates real risks: to resilience, as over-concentration in one geography creates systemic vulnerability; to sustainability, as renewable energy generated in the North cannot easily be used where digital demand is concentrated; and to sovereignty, as public sector organisations become increasingly dependent on a small number of external platforms for critical services.
The North has the assets, the energy and the innovation ecosystems to help address this. The Digital Infrastructure North Alliance is a commitment by three organisations to work together — and to help catalyse a wider conversation — about how that potential can be realised.
Stephen Young, CEO of Salford City Council said
“The Digital Infrastructure North Alliance marks a step forward in a shared commitment to strengthening the digital future of Greater Manchester and the North. Digital infrastructure underpins how we create places that are more connected, competitive, inclusive and resilient. By working together, we can accelerate the investment, innovation and collaboration needed to support growth and deliver better outcomes for communities across Greater Manchester and beyond.”
What the Alliance brings together
The Alliance combines complementary capabilities across three organisations, each with a stake in the North’s digital future:
- GMCA is the established mayoral strategic authority for Greater Manchester. It plays a central role in supporting the digital infrastructure, inclusion and innovation needed for residents and businesses to access opportunities, services and growth across the city region
- LINX is one of the world’s largest Internet exchanges, operating a regional peering facility in Manchester that keeps internet traffic local, reducing latency and improving resilience for organisations across the North
Jennifer Holmes, CEO for the London Internet Exchange (LINX) said;
“LINX Manchester has become a vital hub for digital growth in the North. We are proud to be extending its reach and collaborative opportunities to key stakeholders in the North for the good of the Internet and connectivity experiences within the public sector. This alliance allows us to extend the benefits of peering to more organisations, keeping traffic local and enabling faster, more efficient services.”
- CNI is a cooperative providing shared passive infrastructure — dark fibre and colocation — across Greater Manchester, Blackpool and beyond, with existing connectivity into LINX Manchester
What the Alliance will do
The Alliance’s first act is to convene DIN26 — intended as the first of an annual series of summits sustaining a long-term, inclusive conversation about digital infrastructure strategy in the North.
Beyond the summit, the Alliance will work together on infrastructure initiatives where the capabilities of its members are complementary. One project under active consideration would bring LINX peering capacity directly into CNI’s Ashton Old Baths Digital Exchange, where it could connect to networks including GM One — the high-speed core network connecting over 1,200 public sector sites across Greater Manchester. If realised, this would allow public sector organisations to exchange internet traffic locally and access major cloud platforms without routing through London or crossing the public internet — with potential benefits for performance, resilience and cost.
The Alliance will also advocate jointly for greater infrastructure investment in the North, and contribute a credible northern perspective to digital infrastructure strategy at a national level.
Tim Rainey, CNI, said:
“CNI exists to make shared infrastructure work for its members and for the communities where we operate. This alliance is about taking that principle to a larger scale — bringing together organisations that each bring something different, to make a collective case for the North that none of us could make as effectively alone.”
About the Organisations
Cooperative Network Infrastructure (CNI) is a cooperative society providing shared passive digital infrastructure — including dark fibre and colocation — across Greater Manchester, Blackpool, Sussex and beyond. CNI’s cooperative model enables public and private sector organisations to share infrastructure assets, reducing costs and avoiding duplication. www.cni.coop
LINX (London Internet Exchange) is one of the world’s largest Internet exchanges, providing neutral interconnection services to networks across the UK and internationally. LINX Manchester is a regional peering facility serving organisations across the North of England. www.linx.net
Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) is the established mayoral strategic authority for Greater Manchester, working with its ten constituent local authorities and a wide range of partners to drive economic growth, improve public services and deliver the Greater Manchester Strategy. [www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk