{"id":27250,"date":"2021-06-04T17:08:14","date_gmt":"2021-06-04T16:08:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/?p=27250"},"modified":"2021-06-14T12:07:21","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T11:07:21","slug":"ix-wireless-and-6g-internet-launch-blackburns-new-gigabit-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ispreview.co.uk\/index.php\/2021\/06\/ix-wireless-and-6g-internet-launch-blackburns-new-gigabit-network.html","title":{"rendered":"IX Wireless and 6G Internet Launch Blackburn’s New Gigabit Network UPDATE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fixed wireless ISP 6G Internet<\/a> (IX Wireless), which despite the name is not connected to the future 6G mobile standard, has today announced the launch of a new “game changing<\/em>” gigabit broadband network across the Lancashire (England) town of Blackburn. The provider also aspires to cover another 250,000 UK premises this year and 4 million by 2025.<\/p>\n

In case any of this sounds familiar, then that’s because 6GI previously announced their new network build in mid-2019. Back then their announcement committed to rollout a 1Gbps (rising to 6Gbps by 2025) capable broadband network across 38,000 homes in Blackburn<\/strong> (Lancashire) over the next 2 years and after that they’d aim to “reach 4 million homes within three years<\/em>” (here<\/a>).<\/p>\n

At the time we took their grander rollout plans with a pinch of salt, not least because in 2013 the same ISP had promised to extend their wireless network across the rest of the United Kingdom within the space of 12 months (here<\/a>), which obviously didn’t happen. The decision to continue naming their wireless broadband packages by using “fibre<\/em>” terminology may have also raised the odd eyebrow.<\/p>\n

The good news today is that their new “gigabit broadband network<\/em>” in Blackburn has been launched, although the claim that it “has been built in only nine months<\/em>” seems to be at odds with their prior announcement from two years ago.<\/p>\n

Oliver Dowden MP, DCMS Secretary of State, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I am delighted to join you for the virtual opening of your Blackburn gigabit network, which is really going to provide some of the fastest broadband on the planet to tens of thousands of people across the North West and it is all part of this government\u2019s once in a lifetime upgrade to the digital infrastructure.<\/p>\n

I would like to really pay tribute to you and other alternative network providers in that mission, particularly in the North West. The Blackburn network has been built in only nine months and I know you have got very exciting ambitions to reach another 250,000 premises this year and to reach 4 million premises by 2025.<\/p>\n

It really does show how much we can achieve when we bring together the power of private investments and government programmes along with close collaboration with local government. Project Gigabit is the levelling up game changer. Northern towns and cities are getting gigabit first in a big boost for the region and it means people will be able to run a business from anywhere.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Phil Riley, Blackburn with Darwen Council, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

“At the present time, we have got some of the fastest broadband in the country. That is the sign of the town looking up and to the future.<\/p>\n

We were the first borough to take up this opportunity and other local councils have followed suit. We have worked closely with the company to minimise any inconvenience throughout the process.<\/p>\n

The result is we have something which is a real asset for the residents and will eventually become a major asset for the businesses in the borough too.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Curiously, the press release contains no commentary from the provider itself, or much in the way of detail about the new network (how does it differ from their previous one etc.?) or its future rollout plan. Furthermore, we couldn’t see any 1Gbps packages on their website. At present the top “Ultrafast Fibre<\/em>” tier is still a 100Mbps (20Mbps upload) service for \u00a321.99 per month, which is similar to what they were offering two years ago.<\/p>\n

We decided to try and check a Blackburn postcode or two via their submission form, but that only tells you whether the network is available. In addition, you can’t conduct an availability check without also entering some personal details and consenting to 6Gi “processing and storing this information<\/em>,” much of which is unnecessary for the simple purpose of checking network availability (an address should be all they need).<\/p>\n

In the meantime, we’ve replied to the announcement in the hope of getting a little more detail, such what network technologies they’re using and how much their gigabit speed package actually costs, as well as whether or not it exists yet. Lest we forget that Blackburn is also home to Virgin Media<\/a>’s gigabit-capable network, while CityFibre<\/a> have plans to deploy FTTP<\/a> in the town too and Openreach<\/a> has also reached a few small areas with their fibre.<\/p>\n