ISP Vtesse Networks, a provider of fibre optic networking services, has today announced the deployment of new infrastructure in Hertfordshire designed to demonstrate that superfast broadband can be viable for residents of "Final Third" communities. This refers to approximately one third of the UK population who currently are, for economic or technical reasons, unlikely ever to be able to receive a superfast connection.

Vtesse's pilot has identified that the communities of Birch Green, Bramfield, Hertingfordbury and Stapleford all fall into this bracket. The new services, which in other trials have delivered speeds of up to 48Mbps, are expected to be available in late spring and early summer this year. They will commence in Hertingfordbury and will ultimately provide service for up to 500 properties across the four communities.



The services will complement Vtesse's pilots in Cornwall and Wiltshire. The Cornish services have been running since November 2009. Early feedback provides a good idea of what Hertfordshire users can expect. People who previously endured unreliable connections and painfully slow download speeds (typically below 1Mbps) now enjoy non-stop service and speeds between 33-48Mbps.

Results from the pilot will be used by Vtesse Networks to support applications for grants from the Government’s 2Mbps Universal Service Commitment (USC) Fund, and also from the Next Generation Broadband Fund announced in the recent Pre Budget Report. Assuming it makes it past the next general election. Anyone who would like to be considered for the Hertfordshire pilot can register interest and get further information by emailing hertfordshire@vtesse.com.