UPD North Yorkshire UK Detail 1st Phase of its Superfast Broadband Rollout

The state aid supported Superfast North Yorkshire (SNY) project, which with the help of BT seeks to make superfast broadband ISP services available to 100% of local homes and businesses by 2017 (90% by the end of 2014), has revealed that over 24,000 premises in 34 communities will be included in the first stages.

The North Yorkshire contract (here), which is also funded by public money from the local council, Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), was one of the first to be won by BT and as a result it has been able to progress without too many other delays.

As usual BT’s plan involves a mix of solutions, which will be predominantly based off its up to 80Mbps FTTC and 330Mbps FTTP technologies. Overall the operator will need to upgrade around 700 street cabinets and this should eventually help extend its existing superfast broadband service to a total of 365,000 premises.

Some of the first communities to benefit include Pately Bridge, Sleights, Rufforth and Ripon, which will all be upgraded by the end of summer 2013. BT will also focus upon improving its existing FTTC coverage in York, Malton and Dringhouses. The project expects to reach 10,000 homes and businesses not covered by BT’s commercial roll-out by the end of March 2013.

Councillor Carl Les, Chairman of Superfast North Yorkshire, said:

“Investment in fibre and faster broadband speeds will be a key part of our economic revival as we finally shrug off the effects of the downturn and create a better, more prosperous future.

Fast, sophisticated communications are the cornerstone of a successful community, helping local people to build their skills and knowledge and encouraging the creation of new businesses and jobs. This exciting technology will transform on-line education, training and leisure for households and enhance the competitiveness of local firms.

In addition to BT’s commercial roll-out of fibre broadband Superfast North Yorkshire has already announced plans to make fibre broadband available to over 125,000 homes and businesses in our county. Reaching that target is a substantial achievement and we are pleased with the pace of the roll-out which is bringing this exciting technology to more challenging areas in the county.”

The total amount invested in North Yorkshire “fibre broadband” is now said to be worth around £70 million. The remaining 10% of premises can expect to see speeds of at least 2Mbps by the end of 2014, although the council does plan to expand superfast to 100% by 2017.

UPDATE 2pm

BT has sent along an official press release that also includes the full exchange/location list.

Beningbrough
High Bentham
Birstwith
Camblesforth
Clifton
Cloughton

Low Dinsdale
Dunnington
Thorton
Melsonby
Gateforth
Great Ayton
Great Smeaton
Hemingbrough
Melmerby
North Cowton
Oatlands Mount
Osmotherley
Pateley Bridge
Ripon
Rufforth
Sheriff Hutton
Sleights
Snainton
South Milford
Spofforth
Middleton on Leaven
Gate Helmsley

Stillington
Stockton On-Forest
Strensall
Sutton
Topcliffe
Whitwell -On-The-Hill