Work has started this week on the next stage of an ambitious £2.2m plan to deliver an ultrafast fibre broadband network across Plymouth and surrounding area.
Due to be completed in summer 2021, the project will provide a free fibre optic connection for 130 buildings in Plymouth and South West Devon, meaning key public services such as hospitals, clinics, doctors’ surgeries, schools, youth centres, libraries and council buildings will be better connected. Full fibre networks have connections offering download speeds of up to a gigabit per second (Gbps).
The project has spent the last few months planning the delivery of fibre to buildings and carrying out surveys in preparation for this work. The first installations of fibre to buildings in the city will be started this week by the contractor BT Group.
The first sites that will be completed by the end of December 2020 are:
- Mannamead Surgery in Eggbuckland Road and Ocean Health Centre in Stirling Road
- Mount Tamar School in St Budeaux, Riverside Community Primary School in Poole Park Rd and St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Pemros Road
- St Budeaux Library
The remaining sites in the city will be completed over a six month period between January and June 2021.
The management and oversight of the installation will be carried out by Delt Shared Services, who will ensure there is as little disruption as possible on any roads affected by the works.
Earlier this year, Plymouth City Council together with NHS Devon Care Commissioning Group, the University Hospitals NHS Trust, West Devon Borough Council and South Hams District Council and Delt Shared Services Ltd secured a £2.2 million grant from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for the project. This investment will also significantly extend access to full fibre networks, making it easier for homes and businesses to connect in the future.
Plymouth City Council leader Tudor Evans OBE said: “This is fantastic news which will deliver superfast broadband for local people, whether they are pupils, patients or workers. Being able to enjoy the latest broadband technology will mean the public services we all rely on can be quicker and more efficient.
“The lockdown has underlined how much people increasingly need to be online, whether that is to work, learn, or consult with health professionals. The future is digital and having some of the fastest broadband speeds available will improve local schools, libraries and health centres and also provide a timely boost for our economy.”
Brian Jones, Headteacher at Riverside Community Primary School said: “Children no longer remember a time before the internet and we rely on technology more than ever to plan and deliver lessons. Faster fibre will be a real boost to the school helping staff and pupils alike enjoy the benefits of quicker and more efficient broadband.”
BT has committed to significant inward investment to the region’s communications network worth over £ 22 million over the next few years which will help make the region more attractive to business and create new jobs in the area. This includes developing a new 5G network and a commitment to use that technology to bring cheaper broadband to deprived areas of Plymouth. The network will also open up the possibility for a range of new smart functions across the city.