Shropshire Publishes BDUK and BT Superfast Broadband Rollout Map

The Shropshire County Council have recently joined other local authorities in publishing a new map that shows the planned rollout of their £24.6 million state aid supported BT fibre broadband (FTTC/P) deployment in the region, which is expected to cover 93% of local premises by the end of Spring 2016 (excludes Telford & Wrekin).

The Connecting Shropshire programme in England, which was signed in March 2013 (here), is apparently still considered to be in its “early stages” and thus the map is only indicative of what the coverage might end up being. Similarly the visualisation is produced at a high level and is thus “not accurate to premise or postcode level“.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council Cabinet Member for Broadband, said:

“The first phase of engineering work has now started on the Connecting Shropshire project. It is a huge task that will see vast improvements in the availability of high speed broadband to many homes and businesses. The deployment map serves to give people an indicative view of where and when fibre broadband will be available in their area. The map will be updated periodically as the programme develops, and I would encourage anyone with an interest to check the situation by visiting the Connecting Shropshire website and make use of the postcode checker.”

Broadly speaking the map shows BT’s current commercial rollout of FTTC/P in GREY, while the areas that are expected to go live during 2014 have been marked in a DARK GREEN and those set for 2015 are highlighted with a LIGHT GREEN.

But the premises marked with a SOFT LIGHT GREEN for “Seeking additional funding” will only be provided access to a basic level of broadband (at least 2Mbps) by the end of spring 2016 as part of the programme. They might eventually get superfast connectivity but more funding would be required (i.e. mostly from the extra £250m that the government has set aside in order to reach 95% of the UK by 2017).

Credits to local Shropshire ISP Aquiss for bringing this to ISPreview.co.uk’s attention.

Connecting Shropshire – Key Programme Dates

* BDUK3 Procurement Framework November 2012 – [February 2013]
* Preferred Bidder Confirmed (BT) [February 2013]
* Contract signed with BT [March 2013]
* BT undertake Planning & Surveys – Phase 1 [October 2013]
* Rural Communities Broadband Fund Bid [Autumn 2013]
* Further details expected on additional £250m funding from BDUK [Autumn 2013]
* First communities announced [Autumn 2013]
* Local Enterprise Partnership – EU Structural & Investment Funds Strategy submission [January 2014]
* 93% coverage of fibre broadband (2- 300mbps) within commercial and intervention areas and 100% coverage of basic broadband (2mbps or above) within intervention area. Majority projected to get Superfast Broadband 4 [End of Spring 2016]