Nottinghamshire UK Launch New Map of Superfast Broadband Rollout

The state aid supported £31m+ Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire project has launched a new interactive mapping tool, created by FarrPoint, that helps locals to identify whether they can now or will in the future be able to order a “superfast broadband” (30Mbps+) connection.

At present the project in Nottinghamshire, which is supported by the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK programme and Openreach (BT), has already made “superfast” speeds (mostly via FTTC) available to around 98% of local premises (some 80,000+ extra homes and businesses).

Further work is also expected to continue under Phase 3 of the project, albeit focused more on extending ultrafast Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) technology to another 3,000 premises in rural parts of Bassetlaw, as well as the Newark and Sherwood districts (starting this spring). There’s also scope for additional work to take place until the end of 2020 as more public reinvestment is made via future gainshare (clawback).

Kay Cutts MBE, Leader of Nottinghamshire Council, said:

“The fact that Nottinghamshire has one of the most comprehensive superfast broadband networks in the country is a major selling point for the county when we are competing with other areas to attract new jobs and investment.

According to independent estimates, the Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire programme (BBfN) will be worth £302m to the local economy over a 15-year period, representing a return £11 for every £1 of public and private investment made.

We know that access to good quality broadband is rated by many residents and businesses to be as important as other utilities like gas, electricity and water – which is reflected in the high take-up of broadband services in the hundreds of communities where BBfN has provided access. The launch of our When and Where interactive map now provides the public with easy access to the information they need, 24/7.”

The council claims that this is “the most detailed mapping tool of its kind” but we have seen other BDUK based projects with interactive maps of similar or even better detail before. One other issue is the fact that they’re only launching this map toward the latter stages of their roll-out but it would have been much more useful to have several years ago.

Residents will also have the option to register their details on the website to receive regular updates and reminders to take-up superfast services, where they are available.