News

A roundup of what’s been going on in the programme
 
What’s in a phase? This month sees the end of phase 1 of the Connecting Shropshire programme and the start of phase 2, which is expected to be completed in spring 2018. The programme is set to transition seamlessly into phase 2 and parts of Beambridge, Ellesmere, Merrington, Montford Bridge, Prees Industrial Estate, Stanton upon Hine Heath, Uffington, and Weston Heath are expected to be able to make the switch to a faster broadband service from this summer. To find out about the availability of fibre broadband in your area, enter your phone number or postcode into the checker at: http://connectingshropshire.co.uk/when-and-where/.
Phase 2b procurement Shropshire Council has received responses from telecoms suppliers for the third phase of the Connecting Shropshire broadband programme. Known as phase 2b, the initiative is designed to bring superfast broadband connections to premises where no commercial provision is currently in place or planned. The bids are currently being evaluated by Shropshire Council and Broadband Delivery UK. The outcome of the procurement is expected to be concluded in April 2017, when we’ll have a better idea of which premises will benefit from this additional £11.7m investment.
Mobile phone coverage Whilst Connecting Shropshire is working to improve access to better broadband, we also get contacted by residents and businesses enquiring about improving mobile phone coverage, both for voice and data services. The following link (https://checker.ofcom.org.uk/) takes you to a page on the Ofcom website where you can check which mobile network operator provides the best coverage for your home or place of work. 
Ofcom is running a research project to help them better understand how mobile networks perform across the UK, as well as how people use their mobile data services. Ofcom would like people to get involved by downloading their ‘mobile research app’. 
More information is available on the following web page: https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/coverage/ofcommobi.... Anyone with an Android mobile phone can take part in the project by simply downloading the Ofcom Mobile Research app. The app will then work quietly in the background on your phone, automatically measuring the performance of any mobile and Wi-Fi networks that you use. 
 
March 2017 update

 
83 exchange areas are now ‘accepting orders’ with one or more cabinets providing fibre broadband thanks to Connecting Shropshire (the eight latest additions are highlighted):   Ackleton  Acton Burnell  Albrighton  Bayston Hill  Bettisfield  Bishops Castle  Bomere Heath  Bridgnorth  Brockton  Bromfield  Broseley  Bucknell  Burwarton  Calverhall  Childs Ercall  Chirbury  Chirk  Church Stretton  Claverley  Clee Hill  Cleobury Mortimer  Clive  Clun  Cockshutt  Craven Arms  Cressage  Cross Houses  Ditton Priors  Dorrington  Dudleston Heath  Ellesmere  Great Bolas  Hadnall  Halfway House  Hanwood  Harlescott  Highley  Hodnet  Ironbridge  Kinlet  Knighton  Knockin  Lee Brockhurst  Leebotwood  Little Brampton  Llansantffraid  Llanymynech  Longville  Ludlow  Lydbury North  Market Drayton  Marshbrook  Middleton Scriven  Montford Bridge  Morville  Much Wenlock  Munslow  Nesscliffe  Norton  Oswestry  Pipegate  Pontesbury  Prees  Quatt  Queens Head  Richards Castle  Ryton  Sambrook  Seifton  Shawbury  Shifnal  Shrewsbury  Stoke St Milborough  Stottesdon  Tenbury Wells  Tern Hill  Upton Magna  Wem  Whitchurch  Whixall  Worfield  Worthen  Yockleton
 
Making the switch to fibre broadband If you’re in an area that already has access to fibre broadband, you may have received a card like this through your letterbox to advise you on why and how to upgrade:
It’s important for Connecting Shropshire to encourage people to make the switch to fibre broadband because the more people that do, the better connected the county is; meaning people are better able to participate fully in modern life.  It’s also beneficial because, for every percentage point above 20%, Shropshire Council will receive a revenue contribution (regardless of the ISP you sign-up with) through the existing contract mechanism.  This could amount to millions of pounds during the lifetime of the project (30% take-up would produce an extra £2.2m) and is the reason why we send out carefully targeted marketing information to homes and businesses. 

 

Contact Details
www.connectingshropshire.co.uk    connecting.shropshire@shropshire.gov.uk   01743 252203