1,300 Extra Staffordshire UK Premises to Get BT’s “Fibre Broadband”

A further 1,300 homes and businesses in Staffordshire (England) are due to be covered by Openreach’s (BT) “superfast fibre broadband” (FTTC/P) network after the state aid fuelled Superfast Staffordshire project received a funding boost of £1.7 million.

At present the state aid supported programme is already working to expand the coverage of “fibre broadband” networks to 97% of local premises by the end of 2017, which equates to 95% being able to access “superfast” speeds of 24Mbps+ (today’s coverage sits at about 93%) and this is already expected to reach 96% by the end of 2018.

Put another way, around 96,000 premises are able to get “fibre broadband” as a result of the project, of which around 72,000 can get superfast speeds of 24Mbps+; local take-up in related areas stands at a healthy 37%. Apparently the additional contract extension announced today is based on funding returned via “savings” from the earlier phases of the programme.

The first premises to benefit under this additional deployment will go live during next Summer 2018.

Matt Hancock, Minister of State for Digital, said:

“Our roll-out of superfast broadband in Staffordshire has been a great success so far, and we’ve helped make a high-speed connection available to 96,000 local homes and businesses. We want as many people as possible to benefit from the nationwide superfast roll-out, and I’m delighted another 1,300 premises have now been added to the Superfast Staffordshire programme.”

Ian Binks, BT’s Regional Manager for Staffordshire, said:

“It’s great that we’re able to make this important technology available to even more people thanks to savings made during earlier parts of the programme by our project teams, further investment and through use of existing infrastructure.

At the same time, we’re continuing to work with the county council to find ways to bring high-speed fibre broadband to the Staffordshire premises not yet earmarked for any upgrades, through co-funding projects with local communities and other means.

More than 464,000 Staffordshire households and businesses can now access superfast fibre broadband as a result of the Superfast Staffordshire partnership and BT’s own roll-out, and we’re committed to making it available as widely as possible.”

Apparently some of the areas that can expect to benefit from today’s announcement include Comberford, Hilton, Lower Stonnall, Pipe Hill and Thorpe Constantine.

The Roll-out Plan (£1.7m Contract)

South Staffs

Blymhill Lawns, Brineton, Comberford, Four Ashes, Grindley, Hilton, Leycett, Little Bridgeford, Lower Stonnall, Pipe Hill, Ranton Green, Thorpe Constantine and Whittington (near Stourbridge).

North Staffs

Crowborough, Freehay, Grindley, Leycett, Little Bridgeford, Oakamoor, Oakley Folly, Ranton Green and Stanshope.

East Staffs

Admaston, Booth and Hanbury.