Shropshire Council sent this bulletin at 26-01-2016 03:31 PM GMT
January 2016 update
Our online map and checker makes it easier for you to find out about the availability of fibre broadband in your area, and at an individual premises level.
A roundup of what's been going on in the programme
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exchange areas are now ‘accepting orders’ with one or more cabinets
providing fibre broadband thanks to Connecting Shropshire:
The latest exchange areas where fibre broadband has become available
are:
Acton Burnell
Childs Ercall
Cockshutt
Dudleston Heath
Llanymynech
Marshbrook
Norton
Pipegate
Sambrook
Worthen
Basic broadband subsidy scheme
The Government has committed to giving access to
2Mbps download speed (a basic broadband service) to every premises in the UK
from the end of 2015. As part of this commitment Connecting Shropshire, in conjunction
with Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), is making available the option of
a subsidised satellite broadband connection for eligible premises.
The Basic Broadband Subsidy Scheme provides
support towards the cost of the installation of a satellite broadband
connection so that a basic broadband service can be purchased for a first year
cost of no more than £400 (taking account of any up-front costs and the 12
month service charges). The scheme can also be used to access more expensive
packages with higher speeds and/or greater monthly data allowances.
You will only be eligible if your premises has
access to download speeds of less than 2Mbps. Likewise, if you are likely to
benefit from superfast broadband within 12 months of your application, you may
not wish to enter into a minimum 12 month contract with a satellite broadband
service provider under the scheme, and may prefer to wait until superfast
broadband becomes available to you.
The Connecting Shropshire roll-out has put 47,000
homes and businesses within reach of a fibre broadband service. To date, only
around 20% of those premises that are able to connect to the new fibre optic
network have actually chosen to do so.
We think this is partly because people wrongly
assume that, once fibre broadband has been ‘switched on’ in their area, they’ll
automatically get faster speeds without having to do anything. But that’s not
the case.
In January, Shropshire Council’s Deputy Leader
Steve Charmley hosted a meeting with Ofcom and the mobile network operators to
highlight the need to improve mobile phone signal coverage in the county. This
was a follow-up to a briefing held in June 2015 to hear about progress. The
session heard from Ofcom, the UK communications regulator, BT and
representatives from mobile operators EE, O2, Three & Vodafone.
Steve Charmley said: “The meeting was very focused
on finding ways to improve the situation for those who visit, live and work in
Shropshire. Shropshire Councillors and local MPs forcefully made the case for
improved mobile coverage in the county, as many tourism and small businesses
are struggling to survive with poor mobile connectivity. There was a common
agreement amongst those in the audience that things are going from bad to
worse, and we need to work with the industry and the regulator to address the
issues that are hampering improvements as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Shropshire Council will continue to act as a conduit between all parties to
make sure this happens.”