The £41m state aid supported Better Broadband for Norfolk programme, which is working with BT to help make superfast fibre broadband (FTTC and FTTP) services reach “more than” 80% of local premises by autumn 2015, has announced the first locations to be upgraded.
According to EDP24, around 3,500 homes and businesses in 30 areas will gain access to the new services between July and September 2013, which is three months ahead of the original end-of-the-year expectation (here). The entire project aims to improve services for 270,000 Norfolk premises and is set for completion by autumn 2015.
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George Nobbs, Leader of Norfolk County Council, said:
“This news is such a huge bonus for Norfolk and I’m sure lots of people living in these communities will eagerly take up these faster broadband services as soon as they become available over the next few months.
The sooner we start improving broadband access in Norfolk, the sooner our county, its residents and its businesses can reap the benefits, so I’m really pleased that BT and our Better Broadband for Norfolk team seized this opportunity to bring forward these locations.
The next, much larger phase is still on track for later this year too, so by the end of 2013 our broadband landscape will be starting to look very different.”
Sadly not all homes and businesses in the areas specified below will benefit during the schemes preliminary phase and indeed that 80% target is also well below the UK governments national aim of 90% by the end of 2015.
First Locations for Norfolk’s Superfast Broadband Scheme
• Baconsthorpe
• Bayfield
• Bodham
• Broome
• Costessey
• Cringleford
• Croxton
• Ditchingham
• East Beckham
• Emneth
• Gorleston
• Great Yarmouth: South Denes Enterprise Zone, Yarmouth Business Park on Thamesfield Way, parts of the town to the east of Hall Quay, South Quay and North Quay and Southgates Road plus areas centred around the bus depot on Caister Road.
• Gresham
• Gressenhall
• Hempstead
• Hethersett
• Holt
• King’s Lynn: some areas of Bentinck Dock, north of Crossbank Road, south of Gayton Road, west of Railway and St James’ Roads and either side of John Kennedy Road.
• Letheringsett
• Little Thornage
• Lower Bodham
• Norwich: some areas west of Woodside Rd, south of Cantley Lane, either side of Cantley Lane South, west of Riverside Road, north of Queen’s Road and south of St Crispin’s Road.
• Saxlingham
• Scarning
• South Wootton
• Thetford: Mundford Road Trading Estate, Threxton Road Industrial Estate and some areas north of Norwich Road.
• Thorpe End
• Upper Sheringham
• West Beckham
The Better Broadband for Norfolk project states that those living outside of their 80% target should still receive “significantly higher” speeds than the minimum standard of 2Mbps. Overall it estimates that most of the final 20% will be able to receive speeds ranging from 5Mbps and 23Mbps.
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