High speed broadband, a clearer picture.

The latest Better Broadband newsletter is now available with information about the final stage of the 'first contract' which it seems will finish slightly ahead of schedule in September.  At this point some 85% of homes in the county will be able to receive high speed broadband.

The Better Broadband for Suffolk Site now has a much better map on which you can see how soon this service is likely to reach your home.  You can see it by clicking here. and typing your postcode into the box on the right.  The map is quite detailed and you can identify individual streets.

What is rather unfortunate is that although many places are now wired up, or will be shortly, some are not.  In some cases whole villages are excluded, and in others some streets, for whatever reason, are not included.  Being just a street, or even a house,  away from those who can receive the service must be very frustrating for people and I can understand the irritation that is sometimes expressed at parish council meetings.

Most of my District Council Ward to the North of Sudbury has been included in the first contract, but our own house in Newmans Green will not be connected until after September.  Cosford Division is another matter.  I am afraid it ranks among the ten most 'remote' areas in the county.  Some places such as Bildeston are largely connected, or will be by September, but some streets remain unlinked.  Villages to the north of Hadleigh have done well in general, but places such as Brettenham and Thorpe Morieux remain high speed free zones.

The council is now focussing on the second contract, which will bring the number of houses in Suffolk that have better broadband up to 95% from the 85% that will be connected by the end of September.  It is hoped that further news will be available shortly about the roll out of this further coverage.