Construction of a new full fibre broadband network is now underway to connect over 4,000 hard-to-connect homes and businesses in Teesdale.
Borderlink, trading as GoFibre, is undertaking the £6.6m scheme as part of the UK government’s Project Gigabit scheme.
GoFibre was awarded the contract last Autumn and has spent the last six months planning and surveying for the build alongside the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and Durham County Council.
Construction will take place until 2025 with homes and businesses across Middleton-in-Teesdale, Barnard Castle, Gainford, West Auckland and neighbouring communities able to access gigabit-capable broadband from as early as late September.
Gigabit-capable networks allow communities to upload and download data with none of the disruptions associated with ageing copper networks. More than 74 per cent of the UK can currently access gigabit connections, including full fibre, but these are most common in urban areas. The government is investing £5 billion to connect hard-to-reach places that might otherwise miss out.
The implementation of GoFibre’s network in rural Teesdale will help to tackle the digital divide across northern England. With the new network in place, local residents will have access to up to 10Gbps speeds which will significantly enhance their ability to work from home efficiently, utilise multiple devices without lag, and quickly download box sets and large files.
Neil Conaghan, Chief Executive Officer at GoFibre, said: “For years, rural towns across Northern England, including Teesdale, have faced a persistent digital connectivity problem, which has left local communities frustrated and very much behind in terms of infrastructure upgrades.
“Through our partnership with the UK government and Durham County Council, construction efforts are now underway to help tackle this digital divide and isolation head on. Our new network will equip residents and businesses in these areas with the tools required to drive innovation and success, both now and in decades to come.”
GoFibre is also working with DSIT and Northumberland County Council to get construction underway in North Northumberland following a second contract award win for the independent broadband provider last year.
