Devon and Somerset claim to be ahead of BDUK game
Devon and Somerset councils would appear to be ahead of the curve in terms of getting the ball rolling on its plan to bring 'faster broadband for all by 2015, and superfast for all by 2020'.
"Devon and Somerset county councils are well ahead of the game in preparations to ensure at least 85 per cent of rural Devon has access to superfast broadband. We will be one of the first three areas in the country to implement the roll-out process. We are also well advanced with our procurement and are working in partnership with the Government to establish a national framework for suppliers."
Councillor Will Mumford, Devon County Council's cabinet member for the economy
The Connecting Devon and Somerset website already has added details of a Ka band option for 1,000 homes and businesses in the most rural parts of the counties, complete with map showing the areas where is an option in addition to the current ADSL services in the areas. The project is to start accepting tenders from April 2012, with an aim of appointing a partner to implement the services in Autumn 2012. By being one of the first bodies to hit this point, hopefully the area will avoid shortages of telecoms staff to implement the actual services.
The goal is to have some 85% of premises with access to a superfast solution (25 Mbps or faster) by 2015, and something like 50% take-up of the service where available. The subsequent five years to 2020 will then see this figure increasing as technologies and money make it possible. Based on what information they have gleamed from commercial operators some 62% of properties will meet the 2015 superfast target from pure commercial roll-outs.
There is some £50 million available to meet the superfast and USC goals, which will be focused on 13,000 businesses and 300,000 homes that are outside the expected commercial footprints. £30 million was allocated by the BDUK, with the remainder raised by the councils, and one would expect funds to be added by bidders to increase the amount available to each property.
Comments
If they were doing FTTH it would be many years before they would get any service. There are two choices a reasonably useful service which is good for 10 years or so which can be rolled out in a couple of years to most people... or a decently future proof one that people won't be connected to for the best part of decade...
No.. it won't need doing again in a few years, sigh.
The rural areas will. ie all the people stuck on the slow 'alternative technology'. they won't go away you know.
CD
the only person who doesn't acknowledge that FTTC can reach 100 Mbps is you...
I admire you're campaigning for better rural IT infrastructure, it's needed, but your pig-headed ignorance ruins that by your refusal to accept plain honest facts.
Thanks for clarifying CD, so your saying in 2yrs wireless technology will be obsolete?
As time moves on, it is interesting to monitor the output from Devon County Council. The promises change all the time - now we are down to 85% of rural Devon with access to superfast broadband. What about the non rural parts?
Like cyberdoyle, I'd like to see FTTH being rolled out now. FTTC may give 100Mbps to those nearby; the cabinet that serves us is around 2.5 km away & the exchange a further 3 km from it. We're deep in a valley so wireless probably wouldn't work.
Well at least they are doing something, but it will only need doing again in a few years...