A recent survey from bOnline has shown that many SMEs are unsure about the availability of altnet in their area, with confusion over the UK’s broadband roll-out strategy.
Fri, 25/02/2022 - 10:36
The latest collaboration between Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) and Openreach will see full fibre connectivity offered to around 600 premises in and around the Dulverton area of Exmoor.
An extra 100 premises than originally planned are being included in the deployment of the network which is currently taking place in Dulverton and surrounding communities of Bampton, Bridgetown, Exton, Winsford, Exebridge, Brushford, Bury, Exton, Morebath, Oakford, Oakfordbridge, Shillingford and Winsford.
Openreach is delivering full fibre to more than 2,000 premises in Devon and Somerset as a result of CDS re-investing £6m of public funding received from the Government’s “Gainshare” agreement with the Company.
Connie Dixon, Regional Partnership Director at Openreach, said: “Across the south west, more than 500,000 homes and businesses can connect to the Openreach network though a provider of their choice.”
Councillor Rufus Gilbert, CDS Board Member and Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Economic Recovery and Skills, said: “The re-investment of this Gainshare funding will make a positive difference to many communities across Devon and Somerset who have been left out of commercial plans.
Among the communities where Openreach teams are planning to begin building in the coming months are Blue Anchor in West Somerset, Bickleigh, Shaugh Prior and Wotter in the South Hams, Coffinswell in Teignbridge and Kentisbury Ford and Watermouth in North Devon.
Designs have also been submitted by Openreach for the network to rollout to the Brompton Ralph area of West Somerset covering Pitsford Hill, Tarr, Sticklepath and remote areas north of Wiveliscombe, as well as communities south of Tiverton in Mid Devon, taking in Bickleigh, Silverton, Cadeleigh and Butterleigh.
