Communities dealt fibre to the heart
UK fibre layer Neos Networks is to run fibre to 91 new public sector sites this year, as part of a mission to give the communal hubs like schools, libraries and hospitals gigabit grade full fibre broadband. This latest milestone moves the GigaHubs project on in its quest to upgrade the comms infrastructure across Oxfordshire, creating 175 hubs before 2024. Neo is working in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council and funding partner Building Digital UK.
Neos Networks has previously built dark fibre networks across Northern Ireland (pictured) with Metro Access Networks in Liverpool, Birmingham, Manchester and London. The Oxford Gigahubs project is on track for completion by the end of 2023, by which point Neos Networks will have made light speed connections to buildings that offer public services across the region.
The project began at the end of 2021 and four of the eight delivery milestones have been passed. Sites include community centres, village halls, schools, libraries, GP surgeries, leisure centres, fire stations and museums, which are already benefiting from gigabit connectivity, improving service quality for end users and allowing public spaces to better fulfil their roles as Community Hubs.
Neos Networks is acting as the aggregator of several comms suppliers including Openreach, Virgin Media Business and regional AltNet Gigaclear. Its brief is to build, manage and operate the new infrastructure. The GigaHubs project main objective is to bring fibre into the heart of communities, improve service efficiency and create fibre hubs that homes and businesses can also connect with the outside world.
Following the council’s Better Broadband for Oxfordshire and Businesses in Rural Oxfordshire projects, the addition of the GigaHubs project will mean over 1,500 km of fibre has been laid as the foundation for a ‘smart county’. This omnipresence could usher in an age of drone corridors, connected autonomous vehicles and other Internets of Things serving residents and businesses.
Keeping people local has been a priority with the government in Oxfordshire. Oxford City Council has recently been accused of using technology to ring fence and even immobilise its population, with a new scheme that threatens to punish drivers if they wander of outside their designated areas into other parts of the city. “The plans actually involve installing traffic cameras, on certain roads around the city, with drivers issued with fines if they pass through these filters at certain times without an exemption or permit,” confirmed a report in Fullfact.
If people do have their freedom of movement moderated by the fear of fines, at least they can enjoy better, faster connections into their virtual compound, during daylight hours at least. According to Sarah Mills, Chief Revenue Officer at Neos Networks, the technology will provide the compensation of a boost to the local economy. “Connectivity attracts new investment and businesses to the area,” said Mills.
Faringdon Library and Woodcote Community Centre will be first to have full fibre broadband under the GigaHubs project. They plan to create a wider range of community services, with ideas for health, social care and third sector services mooted.
“Fibre is improving our service to our community and will be key to maintaining our position as one of the UK’s best-connected counties,” said Councillor Glynis Phillips, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Corporate Services. The upgrade to the broadband service at Faringdon Library had noticeably positive impact on service delivery, according to Mark McCree, Service Manager of the council’s library service. “We are seeing much faster speeds on public computers, staff PCs, self-service kiosks, and public Wi-Fi connections. The improved Wi-Fi now supports flexible working, meetings and hotdesking for visiting staff,” said McCree.