Area to move into fast lane for broadband
AN AREA of Macclesfield plagued by slow broadband will be getting access to the latest technology to provide a lightning fast service.
The internet connection for residents in Henley comes from a green cabinet in Broken Cross and the further away properties are the worse it is.
But now 209 homes are having fibre to the premises (FTTP) installed following a community effort to bring OpenReach on board.
Between 90 and 100 people signed up – enough for the government to provide £143,000 in funding – and engineers from the company are currently in the area to make it happen.
Michael Wood, from Henbury Parish Council, was among those to organise the scheme, said: “Broadband is often weak and can frequently drop out.
“At 3pm when the kids came home from school and used it to play games you would often see it die, you couldn’t stream things or download TV programmes.
“But this direct connection will be 100 per cent reliable and you’ll be able to download a film in 15 seconds.”
Along with Anne Common and Roger Cousin, Michael began the quest for better broadband in September 2019.
To encourage residents to sign up leaflets were posted through doors and articles posted on websites.
Plans had been held up by the Covid crisis but OpenReach began installation work at the start of January and the broadband will be ready by March 14.
It involves each home getting its own connection, which can be done underground or through telegraph wires.
And at the moment, with current restrictions, it cannot come soon enough.
Michael said: “People were desperate for it when lockdown started, I got lots of phone calls asking when it was coming.
“So many people took an active interest, particularly those who run their own business from home.
“It has been made even more urgent given the switch to working from home and home schooling.
Once the equipment is installed in Henbury, the 90 to 100 who signed up initially will get FTTP connected at a cheaper price than the remainder of the 209 it is available to.