Gigaclear Ultrafast Broadband

Tue 7 Aug 2018, 11:34

Liz, I believe it is "Lite Access Technologies," a Canadian company specialising in what is described as environmentally friendly trenching for fibre-optics.

Tue 7 Aug 2018, 10:37

Hi Janet I have replied to you privately but I have no idea who Life Access are.

Tue 7 Aug 2018, 05:14

I have just checked the website and our part of Fawler will be covered by this scheme. I'm so pleased as our broadband speed is unbelievably slow. When coupled with the lack of mobile signal coverage here, it really does feel like we are left behind despite only being 1 mile away.

Mon 6 Aug 2018, 18:35

Liz I understand that there is demand for broadband in outlying areas. And I understand that many would like access to this ultra fast broadband. But we already have broadband and are happy with the service. The first thing we knew about the work being carried out by Life Access near us was when a letter was received this Wednesday which really didn't tell us that much. What we really do not understand is why we are going to have holes dug each side of our drive and a connection point installed for a service that we do not need, do not want and have not requested. Is this a good use of public funds?

Mon 6 Aug 2018, 15:22 (last edited on Mon 6 Aug 2018, 15:38)

Gigaclear is installing broadband in those places which BT cannot reach. It isn't a government grant that is paying for this, it is money that WODC has found from its reserves, and it was always the case that it was going to be used to connect those rural areas which BT missed out. It won't make any difference to Charlbury other than the outlying areas which don't have broadband yet, as we already have the BT lines installed.https://www.westoxon.gov.uk/broadband

Mon 6 Aug 2018, 12:15

I don't think most folks in Charlbury should get hopes up for ultrafast just yet. If one looks at the map for the new installations https://www.gigaclear.com/connecting-west-oxfordshire-rollout-schedule/
Janet might just luck out as part of the Fawler segment (possibly to connect the mobile mast) or it could be lines up to the Over Kiddington segment (20), but metropolitan Charlbury remains outside the coverage area.

Sun 5 Aug 2018, 22:44

That's excellent news. Lets hope that the migration quickly progresses across Charlbury. I thought that, if any, the progression into Charlbury would be Rushy Bank and then up along Dyers Hill.

Wed 1 Aug 2018, 19:57

It appears that Gigaclear ultrafast full fibre broadband coming to some of Charlbury. Just received a communication from Life Access that they will shortly be starting work on this in Woodstock Road. Just to add to the chaos experienced in this area this year.

Sat 28 Jul 2018, 22:34

I am not an expert on the technology but would be very supportive of an increase in the broadband speed. I would certainly consider investing.

Sat 28 Jul 2018, 18:43

Abthorpe near Towcester has a wifi based community broadband network, run by volunteers. This sort of thing would be easy to set up.

Sat 28 Jul 2018, 16:27

In Canada and the US communities can make municipal network flood wiring. I'd be willing to put up some investment money for a bond issuance (or whatever) to get the "Last bow-shot" distance from the street cabinet to a termination near the house. The sewer pipe network goes to pretty well everywhere and no reason a glass fibre cable can't run in water...

While we're at it, a Mesh of high bandwidth wifi covering the whole town is possible and has been done in anglophone countries, technology is secure. Steeplenet anyone? The Church is an obvious place for a base starting point. Again proven technology. If we can raise funds for a large Solar PV electricity generation scheme, why not. I would expect a universal gigabit (or why not terabit?) system might even spin a net profit, and be viable at a smaller marginal rate of return than the usual short-termist (short-visioned?) venture capitalists will countenance. Are their lessons or a model in Southill Solar that can be applied?

Fri 27 Jul 2018, 21:56

Thankyou. I think it is an excellent initiative to support small rural communities. I was hoping that once the "subsidised" infrastructure was in place, the commercial arm of Gigaclear would use it as a springboard to reach out to the wider more populous communities of Charlbury and Chipping Norton.

Having said that, whatever develops it is a very positive step in the right direction.

Fri 27 Jul 2018, 20:25

I am afraid it will not come to most of Charlbury
The roll out of this was the result of a government grant to give a good broadband connection to those in rural areas but unfortunately as we already had fibre to the cabinet in Charlbury we will not qualify
This was not apparent when WODC announced this programme

Fri 27 Jul 2018, 17:16

Does anyone know if the Gigaclear Ultrafast Broadband infrastructure currently being installed ( the large orange cables) in and around West Oxfordshire will include Charlbury? The current phase does not, but it does include parts of Chadlington, Spelsbury and the area west of Charlbury Station. Thankyou