Superfast broadband for more communities
Connecting Devon and Somerset have announced that a further 25 communities can now get high-speed fibre broadband as a result of the £94 million programme to bring superfast broadband to rural areas.
The latest locations include Tedburn St Mary, Whitestone, Ashford, Braunton, Burlescombe, Chudleigh, Heanton Punchardon, Horton, Landkey, Mortehoe, North Tawton and Swimbridge.
This takes the total number of communities to 56 in Devon and Somerset that now have access, as the programme continues to roll-out at a pace, bringing new technology and faster speeds.
The programme has been able to provide additional coverage around the fringes of Barnstaple, Bideford, Ilminster, Totnes, Newton Abbot, Honiton, Taunton and Bridgwater.
Connecting Devon and Somerset also announced a further 17 communities which are next in line for the roll-out and, subject to engineering considerations, will be connected by October 2014.
These include: Ashill, Beercrocombe, Catcott, Chilton Polden, Combe Martin, Denbury and Torbryan, Dunkeswell, Edington, Fivehead, Great Torrington, Ilfracombe, Ipplepen, Kingsbridge, Milborne Port, Stokenham, West Alvington, West Down and Woolfardisworthy.
Devon and Somerset has been selected by the Government as one of the pilot areas for the £10 million innovation fund to explore alternative technologies.
To date, Connecting Devon and Somerset has connected S73 new roadside superfast cabinets with a further 75 becoming ready for service by early July.
The programme, which has laid 980 kilometres of spine cable since the roll-out started last year, has also connected its first Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) business in the Westpark 26 Business Park near Wellington, Somerset.
FTTP – where the fibre runs all the way to the home or business – has the capability to provide even faster speeds of up to 330Mbps4.
In addition to the roll-out, Connecting Devon and Somerset’s Get up To Speed programme has begun in earnest. Run on behalf of CDS by the Cosmic Peninsula Consortium, Get up to Speed brings gadget shows, e-commerce workshops, social media sessions and a host of other events to different areas and audiences.
So far, the team has created bespoke sessions for farmers and business organisations, visited parishes and taken briefing sessions to Barclays bank to help them advise rural businesses. Later in the year, the programme will also be found taking the Gadget show to Holsworthy Market, undertaking a 3 event roadshow around Taunton Deane as well as presenting sessions on the A-Z of selling online and Talking Tablets with communities.
In September, the team will be joining forces with the Met Office who will be talking about their digital strategy for working with small rural businesses.
Councillor David Hall, Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council, said: “Today’s announcement means many more communities across Devon and Somerset can enjoy the countless benefits of the digital world. For our businesses, it means improved efficiency, the development of online markets and the potential for growth. Our rural communities can have the same access to public services, information and entertainment that is already enjoyed by our urban areas.
“To take the programme even further, we have also worked hard with BDUK on our application to the Superfast Extension Programme (SEP) which was submitted on Monday. We want to access all the £22.75 million funding available to us to make superfast broadband available to 95 per cent of premises by the end of 20175.”
Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, Cabinet Member for Economy and Growth for Devon County Council, said: “Connecting Devon and Somerset is succeeding in bringing superfast broadband to our rural communities and businesses. Get up to Speed is also hugely important as part of our drive to enable our businesses and communities to make the most out of superfast broadband.
“We are pleased that the government has made £175,000 available to fund a pilot scheme in our area to look at reaching the final five per cent not covered by the existing programme or the SEP. It shows that our work behind the scenes, lobbying Ministers, is paying off.”
The multi million pound CDS partnership includes Devon and Somerset County Councils, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay Councils, BT and the UK Government’s Superfast Britain programme.
Connecting Devon and Somerset, alongside the private sector’s commercial programme, aims to make superfast broadband available to around 90 per cent of premises by the end of 2016. It also intends to ensure a minimum of 2 Mbps for all homes and businesses within the programme area.
Communities already announced include Belstone, Bishop’s Hull, Bishop’s Lydeard, Bradford-on-Tone, Combe Florey, Cotford St Luke, Crediton, Creech St Michael, Dunchideock, Exminster, Hatherleigh, Hemyock, Holsworthy, Newton St Cyres, Nynehead, Okehampton, Okehampton Hamlets, Petrockstow, Ruishton, Sandford, Shillingford St George, South Tawton, Sticklepath, Stoke St Gregory, Thurloxton, Wellington, West Buckland, West Monkton, Kennford, Henlade and North Curry. The programme has also been able to provide additional coverage around the fringes of Barnstaple, Bideford, Totnes, Newton Abbot, Honiton, Ilminster, Taunton and Bridgewater.
The 17 parishes due to go live by October 2014 are: Ashill, Beercrocombe, Catcott, Chilton Polden, Combe Martin, Denbury/Torbryan, Dunkeswell, Edington, Fivehead, Great Torrington, Ilfracombe, Ipplepen, Kingsbridge, Milborne Port, Stokenham, West Down and Woolfardisworthy. 4 330Mbps is the top wholesale speed. Internet service providers (ISPs) may use different speeds in their advertising. Individual line speeds will depend on network infrastructure and the service chosen by the ISP.
Anyone wishing to access the new service will need to contact their Internet Service Provider to discuss a new package.
To find out more about Get up to Speed, please email: info@get-up-to-speed.co.uk. More information on Connecting Devon and Somerset can be found at the website: www.connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk
