Despite not reaching the initial full target in the first scheme of 1,111 properties, the level of vouchers pledged has enabled us to review the situation with Openreach and in Partnership with the Parish Council we are still hoping to get over 850 properties in the scheme. Whilst we were note able to include all properties in the scheme it has meant that we are still on track to deliver the largest Community Fibre scheme in the whole of East Sussex.
Currently we are in the second stage of validating vouchers. This means anyone who has pledged and received a voucher needs to validate their voucher via the email that is coming through looking like this:
Thank you for pledging your Gigabit Broadband Voucher with Openreach.
It’s time to validate your application. Thank you for your patience, and for previously pledging your UK Project Gigabit voucher.
We’re now ready to request the vouchers for your scheme, and we’ll get these issued to you directly. This is a key part of the funding process and every applicant now needs to validate their details with the Government within 28 days of receipt of their email. Please also check your junk email folders. Their email will come from gigabit.vouchers@notifications.service.gov.uk.
We’ll start doing some initial build checks in your area. However, failure to receive enough voucher validations will mean that the network build could be jeopardised. If you’ve already responded to the DCMS, thank you. If not you should expect your voucher shortly.
Gigabit vouchers are issued subject to the terms and conditions of the scheme and is operated by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which includes placing an order for at least 12 months once the service is live. Full terms and conditions can be found here – https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/terms-conditions/.
Best Wishes
The Fibre Community Partnership Team
To help residents get the information they need about the project we have created some new pages. Please click on the below links for details.
- Overview of the scheme and what is happening
- Frequently asked questions
- Details for signing up for a household gigabit voucher
- Details for signing up for a business gigabit voucher – these are £2,000 more per property
- Check you internet speeds here
- Check potential fibre to the premises broadband packages
- List of benefits of having high-speed broadband (including increase in property values!).
- Video of how the fibre will be installed
- Background to the project
Westfield Parish Council 