The Connected Counties project has helped deliver superfast broadband to 60% of Buckinghamshire, a figure that will rise in the coming months, but it isn’t just Connected Counties bringing developments in this area.

Businesses and households across Buckinghamshire, including those in hard-to-reach rural areas, may be able to benefit from several projects on the go.

Virgin Media has recently announced an investment of £3 billion across the UK to support the roll-out of high-speed broadband. ‘Project Lightning’ will connect 4 million more UK homes and businesses to broadband at speeds of 152Mbps. This is also an opportunity for new housing and commercial developments, ensuring that they have the best connectivity from the outset. Priority will be given according to demand, so the more Buckinghamshire businesses and households that register an interest in this service, the better. Businesses can register here; households, here.

Internet provider Gigaclear is looking to install high-end fibre networks in the west of the county, backed by £30 million of investment. Gigaclear specialises in providing ultrafast broadband at speeds of up to 1000Mbps, particularly in rural areas, and tends to invest in areas where there is no existing or planned superfast broadband coverage. Villages in the west of Buckinghamshire, where provision may currently be lacking, could particularly benefit from this exciting development, a genuine alternative that offers high speeds and is backed by significant investment.

Village Networks is a wireless provider delivering broadband to many locations in Buckinghamshire. Village Networks, as a locally-based enterprise, is looking to increase its network capability, speed and coverage, with a potential superfast solution in the future. This may offer a superfast alternative in locations where the deployment of a fibre network is challenging.

Aylesbury Vale District Council are funding a pilot fibre broadband project driven by a passionate local community which is keen to explore alternative superfast delivery solutions. Aylesbury Vale Broadband will provide speeds in excess of 30Mbps, initially to the villages of North Marston and Granborough, using mostly fibre based technologies. If successful in terms of service capability and sustainability, the project may be expanded to other adjacent locations in the Vale.

As part of their efforts to support business parks, Warwicknet have committed to installing fibre broadband at Globe Business Park in Marlow.

Meanwhile, government ministers are instructing planning authorities to ensure that any new commercial and residential developments consider digital infrastructure. This is essential to ensure that developments are specified with future proof connectivity from the outset and don’t leave a legacy of slow broadband which require retrospective upgrades.

While Buckinghamshire Business First’s support for the Connected Counties project will continue to improve broadband coverage across Buckinghamshire, it is exciting to see the private sector step forward to support this challenge too, especially in areas that Connected Counties is unable to reach. Together, with the private sector and all stakeholders working collaboratively, Buckinghamshire can achieve 100% coverage at truly fast speeds.

To find out more about the Connected Counties project, contact us on 01494 568942, or visit the Connected Counties website.