John McEleney, co-founder of Cambridge Fibre, said: “High-speed Internet connections are only as good as the networks they rely on. Existing broadband services in Cambridge and Ely, even those claiming to be “fibre” broadband, are still built on the outdated copper cabling, which is why so many people experience slow and lagging connections despite upgrading their packages.
“When companies offer fibre broadband, it is only installed up to the local street cabinet, and not directly into the home or business. These local connections, or last mile delivery, rely on the aging copper networks and this is the Achilles’ heel: the further broadband travels on copper the slower the speed, whereas fibre delivers the same gigabit speed if it is 20 metres or 20 kilometres. The massive jump in speed and reliability, which Cambridge Fibre is delivering, can only be achieved by building a completely new network.”
As a registered supplier, Cambridge Fibre’s upgrade to Gigabit TrueFibre® qualifies for the Government’s £67m Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which is designed to enable SME businesses to access dramatically improved connectivity. Businesses can claim up to £3,000 against the installation cost of connection. For every business voucher issued a maximum of six residents can claim £500 covering most of the cost of a home installation. Businesses and residents can register interest individually and will be informed prior to their area going live.
John continues: “Our Gigabit TrueFibre® service connects businesses and homes to the network in a completely new way. By starting from scratch and laying new fibre optic cabling end-to-end, we are building a connection that delivers broadband 40 times faster than high-speed broadband.
“Our full-fibre network is fully future-proof; although we are focusing on gigabit (i.e.1000 Mbps) services initially, our fibre is already capable of delivering 10 Gbps and 40 Gbps broadband services. All of these higher speeds will be available through the fibre we are installing today.
“Broadband is an essential service, the fourth utility, but too many businesses are held back by slow broadband. For Cambridge to continue to innovate and invent the future, our infrastructure has to be up to the job. That’s what we’re here for.”
Councillor Steve Count, Leader of Cambridgeshire Council, which leads the Connecting Cambridgeshire digital connectivity programme, said: “We want to ensure that our businesses and communities have the fixed and mobile connectivity they need to allow them to compete and thrive, bringing future economic growth to this area.
“We are encouraging small and medium sized businesses and nearby residents who want to boost their connectivity by accessing full fibre to check eligibility and local suppliers for the Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme by visiting the website.”
Cambridge Fibre’s Home and Business packages range from Basic to Premium and start from as little as £29/month plus VAT (for business), and £32/month incl VAT (for homes). To find out more about Cambridge Fibre, and register interest in the packages available, visit: https://www.cambridgefibre.uk/