LilaConnect Add 2 Staffordshire Towns to FTTP Broadband Build

Network operator LilaConnect, which is a subsidiary of Swedish provider VXFIBER, has this morning announced that they’ve added 2 additional towns in Staffordshire (England) to their UK rollout of a new “open access” and gigabit speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband ISP network – Cannock and Penkridge.

The operator is currently building their full fibre network across several UK areas, including in the Staffordshire cities and towns of Stoke-on-Trent (100,000 premises – here) and Leek (11,750 premises – here), the Essex town of Colchester (8,000 premises – here), parts of London (3,000 premises via Prime Fibre), as well as Crewe and Nantwich in Cheshire (here), and not to mention their projects in Bristol and Uttoxeter.

The latest additions to this list will see the operator extend to cover 21,500 homes and businesses across the Staffordshire towns of Cannock (17,500 premises) and Penkridge (4,000 premises). The first areas are expected to go live in January 2023 with all premises – both residential and commercial – having access to the new connectivity by December 2023.

The town of Cannock is a particularly interesting choice, since Openreach added it to their own FTTP rollout plan last year and Zzoomm also plans to deploy a similar network to cover 37,000 premises in the area. Hyperoptic’s FTTB network is also present in a few of the town’s larger apartment blocks.

Sarah Grange, Head of Deployments at LilaConnect, told ISPreview.co.uk:

“We are proud to be starting the construction of the new LilaConnect gigabit full fibre network in Cannock and Penkridge in Staffordshire. It will enable all businesses and residents in both counties to take advantage of the best-in-class full fibre internet connectivity, ensuring they can access a broadband service that’s not only lightning-fast, but stable, secure, and reliable. These are all essential features that help businesses to flourish and residents to thrive in today’s digital age.

In addition to our builds in Leek and Uttoxeter, Cannock and Penkridge represent the next step in our investment into the Staffordshire area. It’s a big leap forward in our progress to ensure that the whole region can benefit from first-class connectivity that is future-proofed for the decades to come.”

Using Air Broadband as an example, consumer pricing of related service options starts from around £37.50 per month for 500Mbps (100Mbps upload) on a 24-month term and goes up to £39.98 per month for 1Gbps, although the exact packages and prices may vary between supporting ISPs. In addition, the provider offers a 100Mbps social tariff for those on benefits, which costs from £20 per month. There’s also the opportunity to add telephone services without the need to create bundle packages to secure the best level discounts.

As you’d expect, Cannock and Penkridge residents and business owners will undoubtedly be affected whilst the fibre optic cables are being laid (this can be quite a disruptive and noisy process), but LilaConnect said they will make it an “absolute priority” to ensure that work is carried out as quickly and efficiently as possible. Dedicated cleaning teams will also be employed to sweep, and jet wash pavements and driveways once reinstated tarmac has settled.

In addition, the LilaConnect clean-up team will be deployed to wash windows and cars too. Litter pickers will be out and about to make sure that everything is looking clean and tidy during the dig project, and the Community Engagement and Sales teams will be on-hand to meet with residents, to answer any questions about the project.

Sadly, the announcement didn’t include any information on how much the local rollout is expected to cost.