More than 500 homes and businesses in Collingham, near Newark, have become the first to benefit from the £20m Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire (BBfN) programme.
Representatives from Nottinghamshire County Council, BT, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), who are all involved in the funding and delivery of the programme, along with representatives from Newark and Sherwood District Council – one of the wider partnership of funders – gathered today (Thursday 12 June) to officially launch the programme’s first upgraded fibre broadband cabinet.
The new cabinets will enable people to upgrade to the fibre broadband network so residents and businesses will be able to access the full range of benefits of a high-speed broadband connection, including faster download and upload speeds, an improved experience when buying and selling online, keeping in touch with friends and relatives through Skype and working from home.
It comes just in time for people to access action from the World Cup in Brazil, including the live streaming of matches.
This is just the beginning of a massive investment in and improvement of Nottinghamshire’s broadband network.
BBfN will build on the commercial rollout of fibre broadband by the private sector and result in 95% of homes and businesses having access to the high-speed, fibre network in 2016 – putting Nottinghamshire at the forefront of the best digitally-connected counties in the country.
The new network is available on an open wholesale basis to all internet service providers, thereby ensuring competitive pricing and products for local households and businesses.
In order to access the high-speed broadband network, people in upgraded areas should contact their chosen Internet Service Provider and enquire about a fast fibre connection.
More locations across Nottinghamshire will continue to go live regularly as the programme progresses, so keep checking back at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/broadband for the latest updates.
Source: Nottinghamshire County Council
