Truespeed Shelves Part of Frome FTTP Build After Pole Complaints

Alternative network builder and UK broadband ISP Truespeed, which is rolling out a new 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network to homes across the South West of England, has removed the area of Ashtree Road from their build plan in Frome after angry locals campaigned against the use of new telecoms poles.

The most expensive and disruptive way of deploying full fibre is by digging trenches along roads and pavements, although most operators are also deploying plenty of poles too – most of which are made of wood and stand around 8-9 metres high.

Poles tend to be cheaper and quicker to deploy, not least because the work can be done using Permitted Development (PD) rights, which means they don’t have to go through the usual planning process and can pop-up quite quickly (often without residents getting much of a say). Operators usually only need to give locals the most minimal of prior notices (e.g. sticking a notice to a lamp post).

The cost gap between poles and expensive underground digs can often mean the difference between gaining access to FTTP or being left excluded. But poles also have a growing tendency to divide public opinion (examples here, here, here, here, here, here and here), particularly when built into an area that previously only enjoyed the benefits of underground infrastructure, where they may be considered unsightly.

In this case, Truespeed sent out notices on the Stonebridge Estate, which notified residents of their intent to deploy overhead cables in the near future (although some residents said they weren’t informed). But according to the Frome Times, a fair few “horrified” locals wrote back as part of a campaign to block the development, not least because they felt as if the new erections would be a “very unsightly” blot on their “lovely green neighbourhood“. The good news, at least for those with concerns, is that Truespeed has now shelved their deployment plan, at least on Ashtree Road.

Extract from Truespeed’s Letter:

“Many of the residents in your area have also expressed similar concerns. As a result, we at Truespeed have no intention of enforcing such rights when it is clearly against the wishes of a majority of households.

For that reason, we have decided to remove the area of Ashtree Road from our build profile in Frome at this time. We reserve the right to revisit this decision if we experience significant demand for our service from residents affected by this position.”

However, a quick check of the local area reveals that the community’s opposition hasn’t completely excluded them from the gigabit-capable broadband revolution, since – so far as we can tell – the Ashtree Road area is already covered by Virgin Media’s network. But it does mean less competition, thus locals may find themselves stuck paying higher post-contract prices to get ultrafast or better speeds for the foreseeable future.

Meanwhile, Truespeed, which holds an “ambitious” overall target of reaching 500,000 properties by the end of 2026 and has already done 75,000 premises (mostly across Devon, Wiltshire and Somerset), is currently being funded by a total investment of £175m from Aviva (£134m of which has already been committed to physical builds).