Evening Telegraph (First Edition)
Firm reveals investment
A LOCAL company will sell Dundee’s CityFibre broadband network, installed at a cost of £40 million.
The major investment will bring “full fibre” broadband – around 15 times typical speeds – to almost every home and business in Dundee.
CityFibre installs the network and then partners with internet service providers who sell the service.
Dundee company Fibrecast will sell broadband using the new network.
The broadband specialist has focused on rural and specialist installations to this point.
However, the company now has ambitious plans to increase its staffing levels after landing the transformational deal.
Fibrecast founder Kieran Paton said: “For years consumers have become weary of crude and neglected broadband infrastructure.
“A lot of people at the moment are using copper-based broadband, which has a history of not being reliable. Speeds can vary wildly depending on how far you are away from the cabinet.
“Fibre comes to your door and the speed is consistent, upload speeds are much better.
“Dundee is being offered the chance to leap into the future and experience reliable ultra-fast broadband as it should be.
“We have ambitious growth plans. We want to become the go-to company in Dundee for people who want good customer services and good broadband.”
The first phase includes Charleston, Ardler, Lochee, Downfield, St Mary’s, Menzieshill, Hilltown and Maryfield.
The network will come online in February or March. Fibrecast is taking pre-orders on packages ranging from £28 to £49 a month.
The £28-a-month package has average download speeds of 150Mbps and upload speeds of 15Mbps. It is suitable for one to two light users.
For £35, homes get the premium level with 300Mbps upload and download. Three to four users should be able to use it comfortably.
The top tier costs £49 and has 900Mbps upload and download speeds – for more than five “power” users.
All contracts last for 18 months and have a £30 set-up fee.
The Dundee investment is the latest step in CityFibre’s plans to serve a third of the UK by 2025.
Its £4 billion full fibre network rollout programme will reach eight million homes in 285 cities, towns and villages.
Allan McEwan, city manager, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Fibrecast to our Dundee network.”
He added: “This is fantastic news for the almost 20,000 people across the city who can access our network as it means they will have further choice when upgrading their broadband package to full fibre.”