Over 10,000 homes and businesses in Essex now have access to some of the fastest broadband speeds in the world as Gigaclear, the UK’s leading ultrafast internet provider to hard-to-reach rural communities, expanded its network in March.
An additional 1,153 homes and businesses will now benefit from the expansion of Gigaclear’s full-fibre rollout under Essex County Council’s Superfast Essex broadband programme and by further commercial investment from Gigaclear.
The new network, which can deliver speeds up to 900Mbps, means that residents in previously underserved areas can now work effectively from home and stay connected during lockdown, as well as access key public services online, and continue to educate their children during school closures.
Tony Smith, Regional General Manager for the East of England at Gigaclear, said: “We’re extremely proud to have connected an additional 382 properties in partnership with Superfast Essex, and a further 771 properties on our own, all in one month.
“Gigaclear’s work is considered essential by Government, so we are continuing our activities maintaining, building and installing new customers on our network where it is safe to do so. Never has connectivity been more important for the communities we have built to and those we are still working to reach.”
Essex County Councillor, Lesley Wagland, Deputy Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Superfast Essex Steering Board Chairman said: “It is now more important than ever that we continue with key activities to help get people connected. The Superfast Essex programme is a key part of this, and this has been demonstrated by the number of properties Gigaclear has connected in the past month.”
122,326km of trench was dug to install the fibre network cables to connect 537 addresses in Epping Forest District, 517 addresses in Braintree District and 99 addresses in Uttlesford District in March.
In Braintree, this includes the localities of Row Green, Great Notley, Bocking West, Panfield, Great Saling, Cornish Hall End, Birdbrook, Black Notley, Bocking, Fairstead, Finchingfield, Sturmer, Wethersfield and White Notley. In Uttlesford District, this includes the localities of Widdington, Henham and Broxted. In the Epping Forest District this includes Nazeing in Waltham Abbey, Roydon Hamlet and Roydon.
Work to connect around a further 20,000 properties across the county continues. Residents can use the Gigaclear postcode checker at www.gigaclear.com and the Superfast Essex interactive map online at www.superfastessex.org/maps to see if ultrafast broadband is available or planned at their address. Those interested in getting connected to the network can contact one of the internet service providers available on the Gigaclear network via www.gigaclear.com/our-partners.