Since 2012, more than 160,000 Essex addresses have been upgraded to superfast broadband speeds.
A further 3,559 businesses and homes will now have access to some of the fasted broadband available in the UK. This is thanks to the latest Phase 4b contract. These addresses are in some of the hardest to reach, rural locations in Essex.
They will now have access to a gigabit-capable broadband connection that offers speeds of up to 1,000Mbps or 1Gbps.
We have funded the work, alongside:
- Openreach
- The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)'s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)
- The South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP)
- The Getting Building Fund (GBF)
A recent field visit to Openreach’s Great Dunmow exchange celebrated this achievement. At the visit an Openreach engineer demonstrated fibre splicing. This is the process of joining two fibre optic cables together.
Attendees included:
- Cabinet Member for Planning a Growing Economy, Councillor Lee Scott
- The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP
- Managing Director, Corporate Affairs, Openreach Catherine Colloms
Cabinet Member for Planning a Growing Economy, Councillor Lee Scott said:
The completion of the final Openreach contract is a huge milestone for Essex.
Digital connectivity is key to achieving our Levelling Up aims in Essex.
Homes and businesses in the hardest-to-reach locations in Essex will be able to unlock the benefits of this improved connectivity, fostering economic growth and enhancing the quality of life for our residents.
The RT Hon Kemi Badenoch MP said:
Thousands of residents and business across the constituency now have Superfast broadband connection following this rollout and it is great to see and hear first-hand how it is benefitting residents, local businesses and the wider community.
I will continue to champion better broadband for our rural areas across Chelmsford and Uttlesford, ensuring we all get access to a decent service.
