9,000 Rutland homes and businesses now have access to fibre broadband thanks to Digital Rutland
Fibre broadband is now available to over 9,000 homes and businesses throughout the county thanks to Digital Rutland.
It means that thousands of local residents can now benefit from download speeds of up to 80Mbps, making it easier for them to download large files, listen to music, watch online television and use video technology.
There remains 400-500 premises covered by Digital Rutland that present more of a challenge due to their rural location (places including Glaston, Whitwell, Barrow & Teigh) and work will continue during 2014 to achieve the best possible speeds and solutions for those areas.
Councillor Terry King, Deputy Leader of Rutland County Council, commented: “We’ve reached a point where the relatively straightforward broadband infrastructure upgrades have taken place and most of the areas covered by Digital Rutland can now benefit from fibre broadband. Our more rural areas present a bigger challenge, and we are exploring new and alternative technologies for those residents.”
Councillor King added, “The council is also very aware that some communities, who find themselves on the edge of an existing commercial rollout and therefore unable to be part of the Digital Rutland project, are expressing strong concern about their future broadband prospects. Although national State Aid rules prevent the council from acting, we have written to Government highlighting the difficult situation these communities find themselves in through no fault of their own.”
This latest announcement means that in addition to previously announced areas, households and businesses in the following locations can now sign-up to fibre broadband packages from an Internet Service Provider of their choice: (number of premises) Oakham (574), Uppingham (404), Manton (171), Belton (166), Cottesmore village (459), Cottesmore Kendrew Barracks and Harrier Close (492), Morcott (124), Whissendine (466), Empingham (175), Tixover (70), North Luffenham & Ketton (20).
All ten telephone exchanges in Rutland have been upgraded meaning the majority of the 17,000 homes and businesses within the county have access to high-speed fibre broadband, either through the Digital Rutland project or as part of a commercial rollout (such as the 5,000 premises in Oakham announced by BT last week).
Fibre to the cabinet (FTTC), which is capable of delivering speeds of up to 80Mbps, will be the main technology deployed by Digital Rutland and has been rolled out first. Even faster fibre to the premises (FTTP) technology, offering speeds of up to 330Mbps, will also be available “on demand” in FTTC areas, over time.
Digital Rutland is funded by Rutland County Council, BT and BDUK (Broadband Delivery UK ). BT was chosen by the Council following an extensive and thorough selection process.
To find out which cabinet your home is connected to, or for more information about the Digital Rutland project visit www.rutland.gov.uk/digitalrutland.
Notes to Editors
Superfast Britain is a Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK. Run by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this investment helps businesses to grow, creates jobs and will make Britain more competitive in the global race. The portfolio is comprised of three elements:
• £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017
• £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities
• £150m to improve quality and coverage of mobile phone and basic data network services
Administered on behalf of the Government by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), Superfast Britain is transforming Britain by promoting growth, enabling skills and learning, and improving quality of life.
For further information: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk
