Faster broadband internet speeds are now available to more than 1,300 additional homes and businesses in two areas of North Lincolnshire.
A new network using the latest fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband technology has been installed throughout the coronavirus lockdown by Openreach engineers, who are designated key workers.
It sees fibre-optic cables laid directly from local telephone exchanges all the way to residents’ front doors and can lead to broadband speeds of up to one gigabit per second, more than 15 times faster than the UK average.
The technology is also aimed at provididng a boost to the local economy by unlocking smarter ways of working, as many businesses and employees continue to work from home.
The latest parts of the region to benefit are Winterton, where around 800 homes and businesses can now access the new full-fibre network and neighbouring Winteringham, where more than 500 properties can connect to it.
The new technology is now live in areas of Winterton such as D’Arcy Close, Westwinds Road, Henderson Way and Southfield Road, while in Winteringham, people living in streets such as Ferry Lane, Low Burgage, Hewde Lane and West End can now place an order.
It follows a pledge from Openreach to make reliable, ultra-fast and future-proof broadband available in market towns and villages across the region as part of an aim to provide the FTTP technology to 4.5 million homes and businesses nationally by March 2021.
Robert Thorburn, Openreach’s regional partnership director in the North, said: “We’re making great progress here in Winterton and Winteringham and our full-fibre build has continued despite the obvious challenges.
“As well as keeping people connected using our existing network, our engineers have continued building the new infrastructure to make sure that as lockdown restrictions ease, we can support families, businesses and the economic recovery.
“I’d encourage everyone who can to upgrade to the new technology and take advantage of the many benefits.
“Full-fibre is more reliable and more resilient, meaning fewer faults and more predictable, consistent speeds.
“It’s also ‘future-proof’ as we expect it to easily meet the growing data demands of future technologies for decades to come.”
The upgrades in Winterton and Winteringham were first announced in January as Openreach revealed plans to extend its network into areas described as “harder to reach” across the country.
Recent research shows the economic benefits the new network could bring as North Lincolnshire looks to bounce back from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, with full-fibre broadband already available in other parts of the region.
A report by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr) found that connecting all properties in the Yorkshire and Humber region to full-fibre broadband could create a £3.8 billion boost to the local economy by unlocking smarter ways of working, better public services and greater opportunities for the next generation of home-grown businesses.
And a bid for further Government cash to bring full-fibre broadband directly to businesses forms part of a £50 million submission by the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership, supported by North Lincolnshire Council.
Council leader Rob Waltham said: “The council is working hard to increase broadband speeds for communities across North Lincolnshire.
“I am delighted that the people of Winterton and Winteringham can access ultra-fast broadband and all the benefits it can bring to businesses and communities.
“I would encourage people in those areas to talk to their internet providers to take advantage of the new ultra-fast speeds that are now available.
“We will continue to work with providers, such as Openreach, to bring North Lincolnshire into the digital fast lane.”
Brigg and Goole MP Andrew Percy, whose constituency includes Winterton and Winteringham, added: “I am delighted that FTTP will now be available to a number of households in Winterton and Winteringham.
“For those households who choose to upgrade, this new technology will make a significant improvement to the reliability and efficiency of their access to the internet.
“Improving our local broadband connectivity is something that I have long-campaigned and pushed for.
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“I remain in close contact with Openreach and the council’s broadband team for further updates on the rollout of FTTP locally and will continue to push for improvements throughout our constituency.”
For more information about the FTTP network and whether your home or business can access the new technology, see the Openreach website.