I want to update local residents, businesses, public sector organisations and charities about the progress being made to bring ultrafast broadband into Shepley and surrounding areas.
Kirklees Council has announced this week a deal with CityFibre which should see the installation of ultrafast, fibre optic broadband across the whole of Kirklees. The initiative, named The Kirklees Core will eventually see lightening broadband speeds delivered across a robust infrastructure. The Kirklees Core will become an integral component in a government-wide strategy to develop the so-called 'Northern Powerhouse', alongside York, Leeds and Manchester.
The broadband technology will be wholly fibre optic - no copper wires which slow down even superfast broadband ! This also means that BT will no longer have the stranglehold on this area's broadband infrastructure. So, telecoms and media service companies such as TalkTalk and Sky won't need to rely on BT Openreach in order to run their services over BT's telecommunications infrastructure.
Phase I
Phase I of the Kirklees Core will see council buildings across the Huddersfield, Batley and Dewsbury corridor connected with 80km of fibre optic cable between March and December 2015. This roll out cannot be changed. Fingers crossed that CityFibre will deliver on time so that Phase II can commence quickly.
Phase II 'Demand Led'
That's all the good news. The bad news is that we may have to wait another 18 months to 2 years before we get ultrafast broadband into Shepley. I say 'may' because we actually have a real opportunity to influence events and get our area right at the front of the Phase II roll out.
CityFibre is prioritising Phase II according to local demand from businesses and the public sector. I want to see the whole valley from Fenay Bridge, through Lepton, Kirkburton, Shelley, Emley, Skelmanthorpe, Denby Dale, Scissett, Clayton West - plus Farnley Tyas, Thurstonland, Stocksmoor, Shepley, Cumberworth, Birdsedge and Upper Denby - all part of the Phase II Kirklees Core broadband rollout.
Pre-register
Local businesses, public sector organisations and charities that want ultrafast broadband MUST REGISTER their interest NOW! There is no financial commitment. I'm currently talking with CityFibre about setting up a public meeting to discuss Phase II. I can only do this if I have 60 local companies / public sector organisations ready to join in the discussions.
Residential broadband
The next question then is about residential broadband! When is that likely to happen?
CityFibre is currently setting up commercial deals with TalkTalk and Sky (this is why I mentioned them earlier) to connect residential properties with The Kirklees Core. We want to make sure that if we can persuade CityFibre to rollout Phase II up the Fenay Bridge - Emley - Clayton West - Upper Denby valley for businesses, then residents are able to join the network around the same time.
Action required
In a nutshell, that's it! Gigaspeed broadband is on its way - delivering all the fantastic opportunities and benefits that come with information society and the digital economy. If you run a business or organisation you need to register now to express your interest so that CityFibre can prioritise our area. You won't be committing yourself financially..
Step 1: Please register your interest in The Kirklees Core by visiting
www.kirkleescore.com
Step 2: If you run a business or organisation and would like an invitation to a public meeting with CityFibre please email me Will Roebuck (will.roebuck@eradar.eu).
And thank you!