West Sussex Better Connected
West Sussex Better Connected
Click here for the latest information on the West Sussex Better Connected Website
June 2013
We are delighted to announce that we have signed a contract with BT Telecommunications PLC to transform broadband speeds across West Sussex. Fibre broadband will be rolled out to around 98 per cent of West Sussex homes and businesses within the next three years, following a multi-million partnership project between West Sussex County Council and BT. The Better Connected West Sussex Broadband project builds on BT’s on-going commercial fibre deployment across the county, and will provide broadband infrastructure to over 44,000 premises with superfast speeds of at least 24Mbps by Spring 2016. We anticipate that our target of 90% of premises at superfast speeds will be exceeded once the project is complete. On completion of the roll-out, the aim is for all premises within West Sussex to receive a minimum of 2Mbps but with a vast majority achieving speeds well in excess of this.
Next steps
Openreach, BT’s local network division, will now begin detailed survey work across the county. This will allow BT to refine its draft designs to ensure as many premises as possible can receive super-fast broadband. Alternative broadband technologies may be used alongside future fibre innovations to connect the hardest to reach premises that are scattered throughout the county. These properties currently have speeds of less than 2 Mbps or no access to broadband at all. As yet we can’t tell you where your area will be in the three-year roll out programme. The West Sussex Better Connected Broadband Project Team will be back in touch as soon as we have more information for you.
Update 30th April – 14th May 2013
Key milestones have been achieved since the last project board:
• West Sussex have passed the BDUK ‘Checkpoint C’ which is the BDUK ‘green light’ for us to sign a contract with the supplier
• Our State Aid application has been approved, meaning that our application for deploying public funds in the intervention area has been approved to EU regulations
• The Grant Agreement (releasing the funds from central government) has been signed by BDUK and WSCC.
• All Contract schedules have been approved by BDUK and BT
• Contract finalisation note:
o Key sticking point on release of confidential information – the supplier has accepted release of information to the Districts, Boroughs and Southdowns National Park as early discussion of cabinet location etc will assist in smoothing the way for subsequent formal planning applications.
o Other bodies will be by application
o All bodies invited to the governance boards outside of WSCC will be required to sign a confidentially agreement.
• We are on track to sign the contract on Wednesday 15th May ; Sue Hawker, Director Communities Commissioning will sign for WSCC, Bill Murphy, BT NGA Managing Director with sign for BT.
• A joint press release will be issued shortly after contract signature. The press release will state that the contract value is £19.9M, which includes all public funds (£12.52M) plus the £7.4M Capex and Opex that BT will put into the project over 10 years. It will also state the number of premises (over 44,000) that will benefit from superfast coverage.
• A Radio interview is also planned
• Our web pages will be updated, and communications will be sent to the District and Boroughs, local MPs, Parish Councils and via the ’govdelivery’ email facility.
