Fibreband has re-launched its ultrafast 100Mbps (1Gbps capable) fibre optic broadband ISP services to residents in the English (UK) coastal city of Bournemouth (Dorset). The move follows efforts by CityFibre Holdings to complete the i3 Group's unfinished Fibre-to-the-Home ( FTTH ) network, which stalled over serious financial problems last year and resulted in a suspension of services during early 2011.

The i3 Group was ultimately forced to sell off its UK subsidiaries to CityFibre Holdings in January 2011, which is led by i3's former President and COO Greg Mesch (here). Since then the new group, under pressure from the local council, has been working to complete the work in Bournemouth and put right what went wrong before.


According to ISPreview.co.uk's August 2011 CityFibre interview, the network has so far passed 24,000 'service-ready' homes in Bournemouth and the remaining 14,000 still require "minor ‘last meters’ installation work"; this would occur if the resident chose to contract with a related ISP like Fibreband.


In order to get things rolling Fibreband has invited 250 households in the BH10 and BH11 postcode areas to take part in a trial of its ultrafast broadband services. Volunteers will receive the full service free of charge for the first six months.


Fibreband and CityFibre now face a difficult uphill struggle, both in terms of tackling competition and regaining customer confidence (once bitten, twice shy). Virgin Media and BT have also pledged to make 100Mbps broadband services available to residents in Bournemouth between now and the end of 2012 respectively.