UK counties to enjoy new gigabit broadband

Business and residential customers in Devon and Shropshire will soon have access to gigabit broadband services due to a planned expansion by a UK telecoms major, as part of the Project Gigabit programme.

In North Shropshire, the first wave of customers is already enjoying access via alternative network (alt-net) provider Freedom Fibre via the Government’s scheme to bring faster internet to underserved areas. However, in Exmouth, telecommunications giant Virgin Media has rolled out gigabit-capable broadband to many premises for the first time.

Freedom Fibre aims to build a dependable, resilient and ultra-fast fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) network for businesses and homes across the West Midlands and North West England. After completing a strategic merger early last year with VX UK, Freedom Fibre states it is now taking an innovative approach in the design of complex networks. To accomplish its ambitions, it has onboarded several internet service providers (ISPs), including LilaConnect, its own retail arm.

After many months of survey work, detailed design and engagement with the community, Spring 2024 saw Freedom Fibre launch the build phase of its mission to bring North Shropshire full fibre.

The project was made possible with £24 million of government funding from Project Gigabit. The alt-net now aims to connect 12,000 business and residential customers that would otherwise have been stuck with slow, outdated networks.

Project Gigabit was launched in 2021 with the goal of accelerating Britain’s economic recovery following the pandemic. The programme is focused on connecting remote and rural parts of the UK, but also urban locations that suffer from poor internet access.