First Cabinet Live on Isle of Wight as BT Start Fibre Broadband Rollout

The state aid supported £7.5m project to help extend BT’s “fibre broadband” (FTTC/P) network to an additional 20,000 “mainly rural” homes and businesses on the Isle of Wight, which resides just off England’s central southern coastline, has finally begun with the first street cabinet going live in Farriers Way, Shorwell.

The cabinet covers around 240 premises in the area and locals should be able to place an order with their chosen ISP for the service “within the next few days“. As previously revealed (here), Phase One of BTOpenreach’s deployment will also include Shalfleet, Gurnard, Whippingham, Brighstone and Merstone.

IoW Councillor Shirley Smart said:

“This is terrific news that the first cabinet has gone live. We can now look forward to many residents and businesses in rural areas being connected up over the coming months. This will bring significant benefits to people in these areas and should over time assist with attracting inward investment and providing a real boost for business and tourism.”

Bill Murphy, MD of BT’s NGA Division, said:

“This is great news for Shorwell and the Isle of Wight. The broadband partnership will ensure more households are able to benefit from high-speed broadband, whether they are using the internet for research and online training or just browsing for entertainment and leisure purposes.

This announcement builds on BT’s commercial investment, which has already made the fibre broadband available to around 49,000 premises, mainly in the Island’s towns. Faster broadband will also help local businesses grow, attracting inward investment and boosting the local economy.”

According to the latest update, once completed by September 2015 some 95% of Island homes should have gained access to a superfast broadband (24Mbps+) connection (note: 99% will also be covered by the NGA/fibre network, including sub-24Mbps speeds).

In a separate comment, BTOpenreach told ISPreview.co.uk that today’s news means they’re now delivering in every area where they signed a phase one BDUK contract.