AltNet UK Broadband ISP Freedom Fibre Launch Community Fund

Network builder and ISP Freedom Fibre, which has a long-term aspiration to reach over 2 million properties with their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) broadband network, has today launched a new community fund that will invest thousands of pounds in “environmental projects” across areas where it is building.

At present the operator, which is being supported by TalkTalk, has already covered 40,000 premises in England (aiming for 70,000 by the end of 2022) and is mostly connecting locations in towns and villages across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Shropshire and North Wales.

However, the locations they reach will now be able to benefit from a new £4,000 fund, which during the trial period will offer £1,000 to each of four initial communities – Weaverham (Cheshire), Whitchurch (Shropshire), Irlam (Greater Manchester), and Culcheth (Cheshire).

The Freedom Fund is open to non-profit groups in the aforementioned locations and is welcoming applications for up to £250 per community project. We should point out that the overall value of the fund is expected to potentially reach £60k by 2023, once it’s been rolled out across FF’s entire network area.

Freedom Fibre’s CEO, Neil McArthur, said:

“We are so proud to be the first alt-net in Great Britain to be launching a community fund – investing in the communities which we are working in is so important to us. I’m really looking forward to seeing the applications we receive.”

The Freedom Fund is open for applications now and closes on Friday 16th December at 5pm. Applications can be made via freedomfibre.com/fund.