Lancashire full-fibre rollout expanded

Independent UK-based broadband internet service provider ‘brsk’ has now rolled out its own Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) gigabit speed network, which is set to reach approximately 250,000 business and residential premises.

It also recently announced that its deployment has extended further into Lancashire in northwest England, including the market town of Darwen.

Regional Head for brsk in Lancashire, Darryl Nieuwenhuizen, commented that the company is thrilled to add Darwen to its coverage. At present, statistics show that only 35 per cent of the town has access to gigabit speed services. He added that having a strong digital connection is now fundamental to people’s daily lives.

The ISP officially started building its broadband network in Lancashire in 2022, and already it has passed a total of 75,000 premises in the area. This includes such locations as Burnley, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Padiham, among others. However, it is yet unclear exactly how long its new build is going to take to complete and become accessible.

In terms of scope, brsk has set itself an ambitious long-term goal. By the year 2026, it intends to cover approximately a million premises with its FTTP network, with a roll out plan that focuses on not just Lancashire, but West Yorkshire, Greater Manchester, and the West Midlands. The telecommunication company’s deployment is financed partly by joint funding from the Ares Management Corporation and Advencap, worth close to £259 million.

According to brsk, the roll out of FTTP broadband in Darwen will see it have the capacity to cover over 100,000 properties throughout Lancashire.