News

WightFibre, a broadband ISP and AltNet backed by Infracapital, has provided an update on their Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network deployment on the Isle of Wight. They have announced that their coverage has now reached 57,000 premises, up from 40,000 in July 2022.

The company is currently investing £94 million in their “Gigabit Island Project” to build a full fibre broadband network. The initial target was to cover approximately 78,000 homes and businesses, representing around 96% of all premises on the island, by the end of 2023. However, they have encountered delays and are slightly behind schedule. They previously expected to reach 60,000 premises by the end of 2022.

Despite the delays, WightFibre has already laid cables to an additional 10,000 homes, and service to these homes is scheduled to become available in the next eight months. This progress brings the Gigabit Island Project close to completion, with 560km of trenches dug out of the expected total of 600km.

The UK government has allocated £10 million of public investment to WightFibre through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS). This funding aims to extend coverage to 24,000 eligible premises in hard-to-reach areas on the Isle of Wight. Locations such as Haven Street, Wroxhall, Chale, and Mottistone will benefit from this initiative. Recently, the service has become available in Totland Bay, Freshwater Bay, Bembridge, Whitwell, Alverstone, and St Helens.

WightFibre’s CEO, John Irvine, highlights their future-proof, full-fibre network as being among the best globally. He emphasizes the company’s commitment to providing fast, reliable broadband that meets customer needs.

Minister of Digital Infrastructure, Sir John Whittingdale, emphasizes the importance of fast and reliable internet connectivity for both personal and business purposes. He views the expansion of high-speed broadband to underserved areas as a top priority and expresses delight that tens of thousands of homes and businesses on the Isle of Wight will benefit from the government’s £10 million investment in gigabit broadband vouchers.

While some full fibre operators may question WightFibre’s claim of having the best network on the planet, it is undeniable that the company has built an excellent infrastructure. Residential customers can expect affordable prices, with packages starting from £25.95 per month for a 100Mbps plan. WightFibre also offers a Social Tariff for those on state benefits, providing 100Mbps speeds for just £16.50 per month.

The post WightFibre Expands Coverage on the Isle of Wight appeared first on satProviders.