Play your part in improving the broadband speed in Westbere for yourself and the whole community

Play your part in improving the broadband speed in Westbere for yourself and the whole community

Firstly, thanks to Westbere resident Corrinne Garstang for championing this initial engagement with the community and Openreach.  It is through her efforts that we now have a clear pathway to a better connected Westbere. Westbere Parish Council will now lead the Project having funded the recent Openreach survey.

The outcome of the survey is that there is a viable Openreach FTTP (Fibre To The Premises) solution that can benefit all Westbere residents.

FTTP delivers fibre all the way into a home or business, delivering faster guaranteed speeds, no loss of speed at peak times, and no loss of speed due to distance from the cabinet/exchange. Faster broadband can increase a house value by 2%.

Funding for Rural Broadband is supported by the Dept of Digital, Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) who will pledge funds per household to improve infrastructure, this is complemented by a Kent County Council (KCC) “top-up” fund. The figures provided by Openreach indicate that these funds are sufficient to pay for our infrastructure needs in Westbere provided sufficient residents join the project.

Residents who wish to join the project will be required to take three actions for the whole community to benefit from the FTTP build:

  • Confirm/re-confirm your interest NOW with the parish clerk – email your name, full address, and telephone number to clerk@westbereparishcouncil.gov.uk
  • Once advised, sign-up to the Openreach Project via the Project Landing Page to give Openreach permission to claim the government and Kent funding on your behalf.
  • Once the infrastructure is available, place your order for FTTP service from one of the Service Providers available.

By way of example, BT currently offer 3 FTTP packages, with approximate monthly costs of £40 (100mbps), £50 (300mbps) and £60 (900mbps). Other service providers are available.

Here’s how the process works

  • Openreach are currently preparing the final offer which we expect to receive around the end of January 2021.
  • At that point, a “Landing” page will be setup, ready for Westbere residents to access it online. This is where residents sign up to the project.
  • Residents should do this as quickly as possible as the Kent bonus monies may not be available beyond the end of March 2021.
  • Once we have sufficient residents signed up to the DCMS voucher scheme to achieve 100% of the costs the project will move into Delivery.
  • Delivery/build is estimated by Openreach to take 10 months.
  • Therefore, if we are keen and get a good signup, delivery could commence in March and possibly complete by January 2022. (Hopefully this means anyone in a current contractual term sees that remaining term expire.)
  • If the build takes longer Openreach will confirm an extension with DCMS to ensure the funding remains in place.
  • Throughout the process Openreach will keep individuals updated by email and alert them to when they can order FTTP from Service Providers in order to complete their obligation and get their high speed service.

The residents service orders

  • When available, residents order an FTTP service with a minimum contract term of 12 months to qualify for the voucher/contribution to the infrastructure build.
  • FTTP can be ordered from any service provider available from the Local Exchange, this can be checked on the Openreach website.
  • The DCMS T&Cs ask for
    1. Confirmation of details. Name, address, contact details.
    2. Evidence of SME (small/medium enterprise, i.e. business) activity if applicable. [Note SME vouchers are worth more than residential vouchers]
    3. Only one voucher per residence (SME or residential).
    4. Existing service must be below 100mbps. I don’t believe any Westbere residents enjoy that level of service currently.
  • After the FTTP is delivered DCMS may spot check pledges/vouchers to FTTP contracts to ensure resident take-up has been as expected.

In Summary

Those wanting better, faster broadband should register your interest with the parish clerk NOW and then join the project when the landing page is available. The sooner enough Westbere residents join, the infrastructure build can commence. If we are prompt, the build could complete by early 2022. At that point residents can order and enjoy high speed fibre broadband. Throughout the project Openreach and Westbere Parish Council will keep you informed of project progress.

Any questions please email ian.mclean@westbereparishcouncil.gov.uk

Please be assured that under GDPR requirements your personal data will be protected and not be shared for any other purpose.

 

 

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