Our future is fibre - Act now!
Ridgewell is being offered ultra-fast fibre broadband infrastructure for free! But it requires you to act now!
We need 150 homes in the village and surrounding area to commit to using the new service for at least a year after installation BEFORE THE END OF MARCH.
OpenReach are the installer of the telephone/internet wires, not the broadband provider. You are not committing to any particular broadband provider, you are free to choose your own.
If the number of pledges is not reached before Easter, the OpenReach team will move to another area and Ridgewell & surrounding villages will not have modern internet infrastructure for the foreseeable future. The village risks becoming an internet slow-zone, unattractive to new residents and stuck with an unreliable service.
Please act now, go to the link below and pledge.
Q&A Future proofing Ridgewell - Ultrafast Full-Fibre broadband
Openreach, the company providing UK broadband infrastructure, is offering Ridgewell and surrounding villages an opportunity to benefit from ultrafast full-fibre broadband. But it needs your help to happen! The rollout of full-fibre broadband throughout the country focuses on cities and towns; not rural areas. But for a limited time, where there is demand by customers, the government is providing funding, in the form of vouchers, to install this modern infrastructure in rural communities. The community needs a commitment, or ‘pledge’, by 150 local residents that they will order full-fibre broadband, from any broadband provider, if the infrastructure is installed. This will allow all 857 residents in the exchange area to benefit. To pledge now go to http://openreach.co.uk/connectmycommunity
What is full-fibre broadband?
Ridgewell telephone exchange is connected to a fibre optic national network, where broadband travels using light. From Ridgewell exchange to your house is a copper wire, using much slower electrical signals. Full fibre extends the fibre optic network, from the exchange into your home, providing potentially x10 faster internet speeds for browsing, streaming films or music, pictures or tv.
What areas are included?
All areas served by Ridgewell telephone exchange, extending to Baythorne End, Wixoe, Stock-by-Clare and others.
Will my broadband cost more?
By pledging you commit to ordering a full-fibre package after installation, with the broadband provider of your choice, for one year. For details see price comparison sites, typically a full-fibre package is around £4 more per month but for much increased broadband speed.
How do I pledge?
Go to http://openreach.co.uk/connectmycommunity and complete your name and address to pledge. You will then receive an email from the government to validate your voucher.
What happens if there are not enough pledges?
In time, full-fibre may be installed in Ridgewell as part of the UK rollout but there is no available timescale for this, if at all.
When will I get full-fibre broadband?
When sufficient pledges are received, the current phone network is surveyed. Over a period of 12 months the system is installed mostly along existing lines and ducts. If you have pledged, this will bring the optic fibre cable to the outside of your house. A BT engineer is then arranged to install a socket inside your house, similar to an existing phone socket.
What if I don’t pledge and fibre rollout happens?
If the full-fibre rollout happens in Ridgewell, the village will have optic fibre cables along many existing telephone poles. If the cable is installed close by, you may be able to request installation to your house at a later date.