Rolling 12-month plan – 77 new cabinets announced

The latest rolling 12-month plan has now been updated on the website, showing an additional 77 cabinets being brought into the rollout. We promised at the start that we would try to accelerate the programme as much as possible, so the rolling 12-month plan now shows:

• Phase One – 52 Cabinets
• Phase Two – 41 Cabinets
• Phase Three – 77 Cabinets

The Network Coverage Map has also been updated. Our latest map is quite different from what has gone before, here are the main changes:

• Improved mapping to give more zoom-ability and greater clarity of detail, for instance more localities and key roads are now named/numbered and landscape features can now be seen. We hope that this will help you to locate your own area.

“Grey” “Black” and “Hatched” areas have shrunk. At the start of the project we had to ask providers where they would be supplying superfast broadband by 2015 and the results were mapped using the BDUK-approved methodology. As we are now in the procurement stages of the second project we have again asked suppliers for their proposed rollout, and this has led to a shrinkage of coverage from some areas which the providers have chosen not to cover under their commercial programmes. As mapping is by postcode, it is also possible that the provider may have found that only a proportion of the premises within the postcode were upgraded last time, hence the postcode would change to white indicating that there is still more to do.

• Additionally, as we are unable to tender for additional works in grey, black or hatched areas we have aggressively clipped these by including only those places where providers can offer 100% coverage. This means that, for instance, where there are a few exchange-only lines, we now have the opportunity to provide a solution. The new map reflects this market failure and has, as a result, led to a significant increase in white areas because this just indicates that there is still work to do. White does not always mean that nothing has been done, white is also used for areas which have had less than 100% of the work completed as there are still homes and businesses here that do not have superfast broadband.

As previously, one of the main problems we face is that the data we are given is detailed by postcode, and the maps are generated showing postcode data. However, telecoms infrastructure clearly does not follow postcodes. In fact, as the surveys progress we are finding that we have some postcodes that are served by a number of cabinets, and some cabinets that serve properties in more than one postcode. When you factor in the fact that some properties may be served by exchanges or cabinets that are several miles away you can see the difficulties. Therefore the information on this map is indicative only and actual coverage will change when we come to roll out to each area.

Click here for full cabinet listing

• To check which cabinet you are connected to, go to: http://www.dslchecker.bt.com
• The latest rolling 12-month plan can be found at: http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/where-when/rolling-12-month-plan
• The coverage map can be found at: http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/the-project/latest-maps/nga-network-coverage-map

Copy for use on you own site and in newsletters

We have a selection of short articles on our website that can be downloaded for use in your own newsletters, websites and other media. They are around 300 words per article and each month covers a topical subject to keep things fresh: http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/downloads-resources/copy-to-use-on-your-own-website-newsletters-or-flyers

Questions and Answers

Why has the area covered by the colour shrunk

When we carried out the latest Open Market Review to establish commercial coverage we found that the commercial rollout for superfast broadband was not reaching as far as had previously been claimed. Because of this commercial failure the grey areas on the map shrunk considerably. This effect has been increased because we have aggressively clipped the grey areas so as to maximise the areas in which we can intervene with the second block of funding.

We have also reduced the coverage shown for the CSW Broadband superfast broadband rollout to reflect what appears to be achievable with today’s technology. This will not affect the number of properties connected to the fibre (NGA) network and it is expected that the superfast reach will increase over the lifetime of the project.

What’s happening about the additional funding?

The Invitation to Tender has now been issued through the BDUK framework contract and responses are expected by 8th December. At that point we start the evaluation and should be ready to appoint a contractor in January, with the information about coverage being made available in the spring of 2015

Many more frequently asked broadband questions can be found on our website at: http://www.cswbroadband.org.uk/faq

CSW Broadband now on social media – come and join the conversation

We are now on the major social media channels and are already creating a buzz. Join in for up-to-date information and an opportunity to influence how the project develops

• Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CSWSuperfastBroadband
• Twitter: https://twitter.com#!/cswbroadband
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/groups/CSW-Superfast-Broadband-4403473

The post Newsletter — Updated 12-month Plan with Phase 3 Cabinets — September 2014 appeared first on Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire Superfast Broadband.