Our newly recruited infrastructure team has begun its first project in a rural community soon to be served by us.
The team is responsible for building the fibre networks that connect communities to our fast, reliable broadband and is key to our accelerated rollout programme throughout 2023 and beyond.
Recruitment for the team began in October last year as we invested to bolster our build capability, improving our capacity and flexibility to roll out our gigabit capable broadband network to even more rural communities. Various roles make up the team, from civils operatives and cablers to splicers. Lee Allison, our Chief Operating Officer, said: “This is a significant investment that reflects our commitment to the rollout of full fibre to some of the most remote communities and in doing so, giving them the digital life they deserve.”
Our team is now operating at sites in South Ferriby in North Lincolnshire and Tealby and North Willingham in Lincolnshire. All the homes and businesses across these communities will have access to our full fibre broadband later this year. Current average speeds are just 30 to 50 Mbps from other providers in those areas, whereas our service will deliver speeds of up to 1 Gbps. The Build Team will play an integral part in our fibre rollout plan, using XGS-PON technology ultimately capable of bringing broadband speeds of 10 Gbps to over 55,000 homes and businesses this year.
With a vision to tackle rural internet inequality across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, we have already passed 300,000 premises with our existing next generation fixed wireless broadband network and are rapidly blending that with a full fibre network creating the UK’s only gigabit hybrid network. Chris Akrill, our Head of Fibre Operations, said: “Our dedicated in-house team is a vital addition to the business and provides us with the resources to push on at speed with our full fibre rollout programme.
“We have a busy schedule as we continue to expand our network of full fibre infrastructure to some of the most remote corners of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.”
We’re committed to ensuring people living locally are kept informed of the work being undertaken and our community engagement team will be continue to be present in the areas where work is taking place to answer any questions from residents.
