The university has brought in IT services firm NG Bailey to plan and oversee the work, which is part of the £43 million Eastside development.

The network will support a purpose-built home for the university's Birmingham Institute of Art and Design (BIAD), with facilities including a large media hub and TV, radio and photographic studios.

In addition to installing a structured cabling solution the project includes building an IP-based campus LAN. The cabling package includes Category 6A horizontal cabling, an OM3 fibre backbone and the extension of the existing server room.

As well as supporting student and staff data, said the university, the network will support fire alarms, building management services, lighting controls, CCTV, access control, intercoms, and lift monitoring. NG Bailey has brought in Willmott Dixon as the main contractor.

Elsewhere in Birmingham, the European Commission has for an ultrafast broadband network to be built in the city.