Up to £9million of additional funding from the Government will enable WightFibre to extend its rollout of fibre broadband to more rural areas of the Isle of Wight, it has been announced.
The additional funding is being made available from the Building Digital UK (BDUK) Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. Vouchers worth up to £1,500 for homes and £3,500 for businesses help to cover the costs of installing gigabit broadband to people’s doorsteps. Vouchers are paid when a home or business is connected and are paid directly to WightFibre.
Areas set to benefit from the voucher funding include Ventnor, Seaview, St Helens, Bembridge, Shalfleet, Yarmouth, Freshwater, Totland, Mottistone, Brightstone, Chale, Chale Green, Niton, Whitwell, Wroxall, Rookley, Newchurch, Winford, Alverstone Garden Village and Havenstreet.
WightFibre’s rollout will reach 60,000 homes by the end of this year with the remainder due to be completed by the end of 2023. Other homes which require landowner permission, for example private unadopted roads, may take longer if permission is not forthcoming.
John Irvine, CEO of WightFibre, has said:
“This is great news for the Isle of Wight. WightFibre’s world-class, full-fibre network is delivering some of the best broadband in the world to the Island. This will set the Island apart for decades to come. This BDUK voucher funding will allow us to reach even more premises to ensure no-one is left behind.”
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet member for Regeneration, Business Development and Tourism, Isle of Wight Council also welcomed the news…
“WightFibre’s Gigabit Island Project is an important part of the Isle of Wight Council’s Digital Island Strategy which aims to see as many premises as possible on the Island receive access to gigabit capable broadband. This is important for the Island’s digital economy, will make the Island more attractive for digital businesses and will aid the Council’s Regeneration programme”.
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Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said:
“Our voucher scheme is energising broadband firms such as Wightfibre to build ultra high-speed internet infrastructure in the most hard-to-reach parts of the Isle of Wight. There is up to £9 million worth of vouchers available for homes and businesses on the Island and I’d encourage anyone looking for a broadband boost to apply.”
Bob Seely MP has added:
“I am really pleased to hear Wightfibre is extending its use of the Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.
“The most important infrastructure roll out to the UK is in broadband. Island homes and businesses will soon have some of the fastest broadband speeds in the world.
“This is more investment in the Island, supported by the Government, which will bring economic and social benefits for many Islanders for decades to come.
“I would like to thank Wightfibre for their investment plans and I am delighted that Government has listened to my arguments that this investment is the right decision”.
Probably not great news into the future when Wightfibre go bust or get bought out by Virgin or someone and the prices go through the roof. Economically, it just doesn’t make sense… Also, if you look at their financing and source of funds, it’s a very “interesting” situation…
It should say £9MILLION ALLOCATED TO HELP WIGHTFIBRE ROLL OUT more misery to island Roads and pavements
Couldn’t agree more!
Why do they get more money from government when they already have got £35 million from investments groups like Prudential. No one will take up Wight Fibber, too expensive and not needed. Just seem to cause chaos and power cuts wherever they go.
I think you need to get some new reading glasses
Roll it out to rural areas? They can’t even roll it out to parts of Ryde. Been promised fiber for the last four years now. Still no sign of it.
Be careful what you wish for, not the best service for Island from what I have heard from users, and it causes far too much disruption to paths and roads.
I’ve had no issues with my 500mb Internet package, 100 times better then all the other service providers
Well done wightfibre. Your service is great and I’m very happy
total waste of time and money
Nice to see no such funding for a feasibility study , fixed link is far more important in my opinion .
Yea right so you get back to your other house
Oh goody more roads will be blocked whilst they lay the cables – great joy.
9 Million would be better spent if passed to Adult and Social Care budget.
Causing chaos rolling out empty ducts is all well and good but only if they put in the infrastructure to support them.
Where I work in Ryde “fibre” (or at least the ducts and white boxes) has been in place for over two years but WF are still saying 6-9 months time for a connection.
Which they’ve been saying for two years now so we’re not holding our breath.
Been quoting the same at my home address too so not expecting much there either.
The only person I know who’s managed to get a connection lives in Wooton which already have Wight Fibre in place before this started.
But still not cowes? I live within 1 mile… Less than that of the actual wight fibre base in cowes, yet no one around here can even benefit from it. What’s the point!?
OMG. The whole Island will be gridlocked
Sorry but government funding to these companies should be looked into
Maybe they are mates of a Tory MP
Great more island destruction to look forward to
I dont know who’s worse.
The buffoons at Island Roads who sit in their vans all day and do F’All,
Or Wightfibre
Why the need for this to even be done.
My guess its ready for the re-set
Has anybody questioned how permission was granted for boxes painted white to be erected all along the Island streets? They are more conspicuous than post boxes.
Have been with wightfibre for years brilliant speed 70down 20 up that’s on 7o package with phone anytime £30 month who else can offer sky 2down 1up rubbish that’s my neighbours
Can we PLEASE have a break from the constant digging up of our roads and pavements? How about a hiatus for 6 months or so over the Spring and Summer holiday period?
It might even benefit Wight Fibre if they did this. Cut the expenses and concentrate on getting revenue in – Wight Fibre are losing over 6 millions Pounds a year according to their accounts and have liabilities of over 17 million Pounds. How long can they sustain that?
Oh goodie goodie more road closures to look Forward 2 !!!!!
Fantastic it makes my day ?(not)
How about the 9 million quid goes on something more worthwhile????
Poverty – homeless people- helping Ukraine – so many worthy causes…..
End of !!!!!!