You may be aware that CityFibre has been awarded a contract to provide a full fibre broadband network to mainly rural areas across Suffolk. This four-year government programme will see over 140,000 premises across the county connected to our gigabit-capable, fibre-to-the-premises network.
We wanted to let you know that the initial planning phase is complete, and that work is due to take place in your area shortly. As we move from area to area, we will let local relevant councillors and parish councils know ahead of time.
The contractor carrying out the work on our behalf is OCU Utility Services. Wherever possible, existing duct and pole infrastructure will be used to reduce the amount of construction required. However, new infrastructure will be needed, and we are working closely with the council’s highways team to coordinate any work that is required.
Why is this work so important? In a rapidly changing world, we rely more and more on digital connectivity and the UK needs to ensure its residents and businesses can cope with future demands. This is not just about being able to better browse the internet or stream television programmes. There are many other factors to consider such as:
• Households have an ever-increasing number of internet connected devices like smart speakers, domestic appliances, heating control systems and doorbells.
• Smart TVs and gaming consoles become more and more sophisticated requiring faster internet speeds.
• The Covid 19 pandemic has demonstrated how important fast and reliable broadband is. Essential services such as healthcare and education are now increasingly online and regular homeworking has become the norm for many.
• When buying a house the speed of the internet is now one of the top purchasing factors.
If you would like to know more about our build process, please visit cityfibre.com/build. Our latest project information, including an FAQ and a way to register for updates is available at www.cityfibre.com/projectgigabit. When it’s time to order services, residents and businesses will also be able to choose from a range of internet service providers.
If you have any immediate questions then please let us know, preferably via Contact_CityfibreSouth@cityfibre.com. We will provide further updates as the build progresses.