New multi million pound Superfast Berkshire plan will speed up broadband for 7,400 more homes and businesses
People living in some of the most rural parts of Berkshire are set to benefit from a further £6.8 million investment in fibre broadband, it was announced today.
wzd5axaoqc2bk21iyd3h-142325.jpg
More than 7,400 homes and businesses have been included in Phase 3, lot 1 of the Superfast Berkshire programme, which is being delivered by Openreach, the digital network business.
The project will make faster broadband speeds available by the end of 2018 using a mixture of fibre broadband technologies, including Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP), which is capable of delivering speeds up to 1 gigabit per second (Gbps), and Fibre-to-the Cabinet (FTTC), capable of speeds up to 80 megabits per second (Mbps).
Dr Phillip Lee, MP for Bracknell, said: "The future belongs to fast data. Generations to come will look back on how we choose to move people around the world - as opposed to moving data - in the same way that we look back at how people once had to physically go to their television to switch channels. That is why the work of Superfast Berkshire is so important, and why I have supported their aims over the years. My congratulations on them reaching this milestone and I'm delighted that they now intend to press on to achieve 100 per cent."
David Jordan, South of England director of next generation access for Openreach,said: "The excellent progress on this project is a great achievement. This demonstrates the strength of the partnership between Openreach and Superfast Berkshire, as well as the determination of the people working on the programme, and we'll continue working together to reach even more properties. This exciting technology is making a major contribution to the success and prosperity of Berkshire because whatever you do online you can do more of it, better and faster with superfast fibre broadband."
In total, the private and public sectors will invest more than £6.8m in Phase 3, Lot 1 of the Superfast Berkshire programme, which is the contract won by Openreach. This includes Openreach's investment of around £5.46m and investment of around £1.39m from Berkshire local authorities, Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and the Government's Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme.
Superfast Berkshire together with partners from local authorities, the Government, business associations and local communities marked the signing of the new contract at an event at Ocean House, Bracknell.
All new work will build on the existing success of Openreach's delivery to the programme which to date has made superfast broadband available to more than 24,000 homes and businesses across Berkshire.
To find out if your property can get superfast broadband today, or if it's due to be upgraded as part of the partnership's new rollout plans, check the Superfast Berkshire interactive maps at www.superfastberkshire.org.uk