FREE Gigabit Enabled FTTP Broadband Upgrade 

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FREE Broadband Upgrade 

To Gigabit Enabled FTTP Broadband 

funded by the government, delivered to Abbotts Ann in conjunction with Openreach

Together, we can access FREE (time-limited) government funding to update the internet connection to our properties with FTTP (Ultrafast Broadband), saving each property over £1200, and potentially helping to increase the market value of your home.  A small group of volunteers have engaged with Openreach to create a community project which would allow this upgrade to take place and be fully funded by the government.  

 

Bottom line –  you get gigabit enabled FTTP broadband FOR FREE, increasing the value of your home.

PLEASE SIGN UP

WE NEED THE MAJORITY OF THE 600+ HOUSEHOLDS & BUSINESSES ELIGIBLE FOR THE ABBOTTS ANN FTTP SCHEME TO SIGN UP – OTHERWISE THIS COMMUNITY-RUN BROADBAND UPGRADE CANNOT GO AHEAD.

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What Do You Need To Do?

1 – Go to: https://www.abbottsann.com/abbotts-ann-gigabit-broadband-project/ and check that your address is included in the over 620 Abbotts Ann properties slated for inclusion in the FTTP upgrade project. Use the address checker on the page.

2 – Want to upgrade to FTTP FOR FREE? Enter your details into the form here https://www.abbottsann.com/gigabit-broadband-signup-form/ MAKE SURE: If you are a legitimate business, or run a business from home (the government will check you are a registered company) – you apply as a business – as this increases the funding the government will give to the project

3 – Problems? Speak to your local FTTP Champion – they operate in postcode areas

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DEADLINE FOR SIGN UP – FRIDAY 2nd JULY 2021

What is FTTP (Fibre To The Premises)?

Fibre to the Premises (FTTP, or FTTH – Fibre to the Home) is a broadband technology that uses optical fibre to provide broadband and very fast internet speeds.  The optical fibre broadband internet connection from the local exchange is connected to the router in your home, which is much faster, stable and more reliable than the old copper telephone line used by many other broadband services.  The result is you can enjoy very high speeds of up to 1Gbps (gigabits per second).

Why should I take this opportunity?

If you are a regular user of the internet, if you work from home or run a business in the village, you will no doubt be aware of the limitations that the current village infrastructure imposes;  

  • regular drops in internet signal
  • frequent drops in internet speed
  • buffering when watching movies  

These issues will get worse over time, as ever increasing amounts of data are squeezed down creaking 1950’s cables.  The FTTP gigabit enabled broadband project offers us the chance to upgrade the village infrastructure wholesale, and have it entirely funded by the government. This is a time-limited offer by the Government and should be taken advantage of.  Without government funding, the upgrade costs to households in the future are likely to be in excess of £1,200 per property.

Property value increase

An independent review of the superfast broadband program, conducted by Ipsos Mori, found that the value of homes increased, if they had fibre to the premises, compared with homes without.  The point is, even if you are not a heavy Internet user, it makes sense to take this opportunity to upgrade to FTTP as you are adding value to your property at no cost to yourself.  With more people working from home, this feature will become more critical in the future.

(see: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/superfast-broadband-programme-state-aid-evaluation-report-2020)

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QUESTIONS:

Contact (please bear in mind that we are volunteers, these emails will be answered as and when we can): broadband@abbottsann.com

REMEMBER: 

DEADLINE FOR SIGN UP – FRIDAY 2nd JULY 2021

Abbotts Ann  FTTP Fibre Broadband Upgrade Project – FAQs

Below are some commonly asked questions, with regards to the village FTTP upgrade project.  We hope this resolves any queries and allows you to support the project to upgrade Abbotts Ann’s internet infrastructure, by making use of this time limited government funding

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REMEMBER: 

DEADLINE FOR SIGN UP – FRIDAY 2nd JULY 2021

What Do You Need To Do?

1 – Go to: https://www.abbottsann.com/gigabit-broadband-addresses/ and check that your address is included in the over 620 Abbotts Ann properties slated for inclusion in the FTTP upgrade project. You can find more project information here: https://www.abbottsann.com/free-gigabit-enabled-fttp-broadband-upgrade/

2 – Want to upgrade to FTTP FOR FREE? Enter your details into the form here https://www.abbottsann.com/gigabit-broadband-signup-form/ MAKE SURE: If you are a legitimate business, or run a business from home (the government will check you are a registered company) – you apply as a business – as this increases the funding the government will give to the project

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How long will the Abbotts Ann FTTP upgrade project take?

This is the $64 million question! Assuming we can get sufficient signups, and mobilise enough people within our community to take up the offer of the free fibre upgrade, works on the project would likely start within six months or so – following on from our deadline of July 2nd.

As we progress through the process, we will be able to update you more fully in terms of exact timelines. Hopefully though, should we hit our targets by July 2nd – hopefully we would be up and running with FTTP fibre infrastructure within 12 months or so. Needless to say – this is subject to change!

Frankly, right now we just need to get this project over the line – so anything you can do to help us reach everyone on the list of 600+ addresses  to encourage them to sign up would be massively appreciated.

Is there a catch to this FTTP upgrade?

No, this government funding allows us as a village to be prioritised in terms of the national FTTP rollout. This “Free Gigabit Fibre” installation is more about prioritising who they (Openreach) do first, rather than if they do it. Everyone eventually will be forced to switch to fibre because in July 2025 copper phone lines will be switched off. So why not support the village FTTP upgrade project now, while you have the opportunity and whilst it won’t cost you anything?

Does the upgrade to fibre come right into my property?

As part of the upgrade, the fibre will be run into your premises (most likely alongside the copper wire that will be there at the moment). As part of the upgrade process Openreach’s engineers would terminate the fibre on an internal wall (most likely where your existing Internet comes into your house).

Will I need a new Router / Modem?

Yes – but most FTTP ultra fast broadband packages come bundled with a suitable FTTP router, so you will get the new router when you migrate to an FTTP package with your broadband provider.

Once the FTTP upgrade has been completed, you will need to change your broadband router. Your existing router/modem is designed for ADSL/copper cable. The FTTP routers provide better throughput speeds and connections to match the upgraded all fibre broadband conditions.

Do I need to re-cable my house with new ethernet cable?

No. Ethernet (CAT5 / CAT6 cable) is good for gigabit speeds, so no need to rip up your carpets again!

Do I need to tell my ISP (broadband provider)?

Yes – eventually… but not for a while!

When the FTTP gigabit broadband upgrade has been completed, you will then need to get in touch with your broadband provider, to request a migration across to one of their FTTP ultrafast broadband plans, in order to make use of the increased stability and speeds that FTTP offers.

Will FTTP Gigabit Broadband cost me more per month?

Typically ultrafast FTTP broadband plans currently cost around £3-£5 more per month than a standard FTTC fibre broadband plan. This obviously varies by supplier – so check with your own ISP (broadband supplier), in terms of the deals they can offer you.

Don’t forget though, you’re ultimately getting a much better product (quicker and more stable) – and properties with FTTP typically sell at a premium, compared with those that rely on copper cable Internet.

For latest Ultrafast deals look here: https://www.broadbandchoices.co.uk/broadband/ultrafast

Ultimately, as copper wire infrastructure is phased out across the UK (eventually being switched off in July 2025), you can expect monthly prices to drop. Exactly as they did in the transition from dial-up to broadband version 1 (ADSL), and from ADSL to fibre (FTTC). 

Will Openreach need to dig up my drive?

No – only in exceptional circumstances. Any work like this would only be carried out after Openreach have fully consulted with you. As a rule the fibre will be flown in by telegraph poles – just like the existing copper cable network is.

Will Openreach be digging up the local roads?

Openreach will be flying most of the fibre cable using existing telegraph poles. In exceptional circumstances, they may need to put ducting in underground to carry the fibre. But this is very much the exception not the rule. We will know more about this as the project progresses towards the works stage – should we reach our targets to get the project over the line.

Will there be any disruption to the Internet whilst this work is carried out?

No. The fibre network will be implemented alongside the existing copper infrastructure. So we can continue to enjoy our existing subpar village cabling whilst the upgrade is going on! 😉

However, the copper infrastructure is due to be disconnected, and phased out from July 2025. At which point you will need FTTP in order to continue having an Internet service.