13
December
2017
|
11:03
Europe/Amsterdam

Fastest broadband in the UK speeds towards more than 8,500 homes and businesses in Manchester

Thousands more homes and businesses in Central and Greater Manchester are set to get access to some of the fastest broadband speeds in the UK following major investment by Openreach, the business responsible for Britain’s largest phone and broadband network.

Openreach is installing fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology, capable of ultrafast speeds up to one Gigabit per second (Gbps), to properties in locations such as Ardwick, Cheetham, Eccles, Failsworth, Moss Side, Pendleton and Salford.

Ultrafast speeds will be delivered to almost 6,500 Manchester homes on new housing developments via FTTP as part of a nationwide Openreach initiative agreed with the Government and the Home Builders Federation.

Nationally, Openreach has already made FTTP technology available to more than 2,000 new developments, covering more than a quarter of a million premises, since the partnership launched last year.

As part of the FTTP roll-out in Manchester, more than 2,000 homes will be some of the first in the UK to benefit from a new way of installing the optical fibre technology by using the underground ducting already in place for the existing copper network. Extensive testing and trials elsewhere in the UK have shown that using the existing network allows the technology to be deployed quickly and efficiently, sometimes within weeks – and avoids the need to dig up footpaths and driveways.

Kim Mears, managing director of infrastructure delivery at Openreach, said: “An ultrafast broadband network will be a major boost for these areas by ensuring that people living and working there have quick access to some of the fastest speeds available.

“It reflects our commitment to ensuring that Manchester and the UK has a first-class network, capable of delivering the latest communication services for households, businesses and other organisations.

“We know that people are passionate about the speed and reliability of the broadband service their communication provider can offer them and that, for some, the availability of ultrafast speeds will strongly influence their decision on which new property to buy.”

Craig Ferrans, technical director for the Home Builders Federation, added: “The amount consumers are doing online and at the same time, from streaming high-definition moves and TV, gaming, online shopping to using mobile devices over wireless broadband, is growing every year and this pace shows no signs of slowing. That’s why it’s great to see developers across Manchester teaming up with Openreach to provide future-proofed ultrafast full fibre access to thousands of new homes in the county. With housing supply increasing at unprecedented rates, and more people purchasing newly built homes, improving connectivity for new homes will help to accelerate the country’s digital revolution.”

As part of ambitious plans to make ultrafast broadband speeds available to 12 million homes and businesses by 2020 – Openreach will now build an FTTP network for free to all new housing developments with 30[1] or more homes. This is dependent on developers registering their site with Openreach and working together early in the building process. Openreach has promised to connect new homes within nine months of contracting with a developer.

Any developments with two or more homes will have access to the company’s existing or planned fibre infrastructure, either funded entirely by Openreach or, where necessary, with the help of co-funding from the developer.

Ends

For further information: Janet Hare, Senior Media Relations Manager | janet.hare@bt.com or call 01244 316 417

Notes to Editors:

Manchester sites:

FTTP in new developments:

  • Oregon Close, M13 – Galliford Try Partnerships
  • Skerry Close to Wadeson Road, M13 – Galliford Try Partnerships
  • X1 The Plaza, Great Ancoats Street, M4 – Herbert T Forrest Ltd
  • Chapel Wharf, Dearmans Place, M3 – Dandara Ltd
  • New Bailey, Stanley Street, M3 – Carillion Plc
  • Exchange Court, Greengate, M3 – Renaker Build Ltd
  • Adelphi Wharf, Adelphi Street, M3 – Beaumont Morgan Developments
  • Ellesmere Street, M15 – Glenbrook CHD Ltd
  • Whitworth Street, M1 – Mercer
  • Weavers Quay, Old Mill Street, M4 – Manchester Life Development Company
  • Foxdenton Lane, Chadderton, M24 – Foxdenton LLP
  • Charlestown, Langley Road South, M6 – Keepmost Homes
  • Bridgewater Point, Ordsall Lane, M5 – Beaumont Morgan Developments
  • Clippers Quay, M5 – Amstone
  • Erie Basin, The Quays, M5 – Glenbrook
  • Pepper Lane, Standish, WN6 – Bloor Homes
  • Cat I’th Window, Almond Brook Road, Standish, WN6 – Wainhomes (NW) Ltd

FTTP sites using existing infrastructure:

  • Ardwick
  • Cheetham
  • Failsworth
  • Irlam
  • Manchester East
  • Moss Side
  • Broughton
  • Eccles
  • Pendleton

For each new development, Openreach’s dedicated New Sites Reception team will work with developers to check the options for a particular site, and give a clear recommendation on the infrastructure that should be built. Once contracted, a dedicated field based co-ordinator will work with the Developer to lead them through the plan and build process.

To find out more about the new build scheme go to: https://www.ournetwork.openreach.co.uk/property-development.aspx

[1]Construction of Fibre to the Premises infrastructure (the ducting, poles and wires) will be carried out for free on developments of more than 30 premises. Standard connection and ongoing service provider charges will apply and excess construction charges will continue to apply where the site is more than 4.5 kilometres from Openreach’s existing fibre network.