UPD Gigaclear Begins Rollout of 1Gbps Fibre Optic Broadband in Underriver

As expected Gigaclear has today begun to deploy their new 1000Mbps (Megabits per second) capable Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH/P) based fibre optic broadband ISP network out to rural residents of Underriver village and the surrounding areas in Kent (England).

The £2m project has been in the planning stages for quite some time but this all changed last October 2013 when the demand threshold of 190 local orders was achieved, which meant that Gigaclear could begin planning for its deployment. As a result nearly 2,000 local homes and businesses can now expect to see their existing broadband speeds, which currently measure at just a handful or so of Megabits, skyrocket.

Matthew Hare, CEO of Gigaclear, said:

“A large part of the success of this project has been down to the support of local residents, and the effective collaboration and information sharing from Kent County Council and Sevenoaks District Council throughout. We look forward to seeing the community reap benefits from the network in the short and long term future.”

Mike Clyne, Underriver Resident, added:

“Ultrafast broadband will have an immediate impact on many of those living and working in the area – from families and would-be home workers to local employers – including agricultural businesses who are now required to make regular online submissions to DEFRA. Ultrafast broadband will be key to the sustainability of the area. I think the biggest impact will be felt in a few years’ time as new, currently unthought-of online services and applications, are developed and higher speeds required. The Underriver network is future-proofed.”

The first phase of the build to Wildernesse Estate, Blackhall Lane, Godden Green and Underriver is expected to be complete by early July 2014. A second phase covering Bitchet Green, Stone Street, Ivy Hatch, Plaxtol, Ightham Common and Shipbourne is then anticipated to be complete by the end of the summer. Further details can be found here.

UPDATE:

Correction we meant 2000 premises not 200.