Faster broadband speeds are here. The latest news about Digital Rutland from Rutland County Council DIGITAL RUTLAND

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1 Published by Rutland County Council in October 2013 The latest news about Digital Rutland from Rutland County Council DIGITAL RUTLAND Find out more on page 2 about Digital Rutland and the impact on download speeds in North Luffenham. Roger Begy (Leader RCC), Helen Briggs (Chief Executive RCC) and Bill Murphy (Managing Director BT Next Generation Access) celebrate the switch on of the 1st Digital Rutland fibre broadband cabinet in North Luffenham. Faster broadband speeds are here More than 8000 premises across Rutland now have access to fibre broadband thanks to Rutland County Council. A huge upgrade of the broadband infrastructure has taken place, and all 10 telephone exchanges have been enabled to provide a fibre service. The majority of premises can now access fibre broadband, but work will continue into 2014 to reach some villages and smaller communities. This booklet provides you with all the information you need to know. THE BENEFITS Many communities in Rutland can now benefit from fibre broadband and we show how you can sign-up on page 6. IN OTHER NEWS... Turn to page 8 for information about the new ShoreLink bus connecting our towns with Rutland Water, as well as details for Oakham Enterprise Park.

2 2 We re upgrading broadband infrastructure About Digital Rutland Digital Rutland is a joint project between Rutland County Council and BT, with funding from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK). The project is focussed on upgrading broadband infrastructure across Rutland so the maximum number of homes and businesses can receive the best possible fibre broadband speeds. Residents are still able to choose their own broadband provider and individual package Your broadband connection will remain as it is currently if you don t sign up to a fibre package Download speeds of up to 80Mbps will be possible in many areas of the county Over 8000 premises in Rutland now have access to fibre broadband and you can find out if your local exchange/cabinet has been enabled by visiting the Digital Rutland website at MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN NORTH LUFFENHAM In July, North Luffenham became the first village to receive fibre broadband from Digital Rutland. Since switching on the North Luffenham Cabinet, local residents who opted for a fibre broadband package have reported download speeds of up to 79Mbps, considerably faster than their previous typical speeds of 4-7Mbps.

3 3 Speeds up to 80Mbps The benefits for homes and businesses The Digital Rutland upgrade enables broadband providers to increase speeds available locally, changing the way we use the internet and unlocking the full potential of the next generation of online services. THE HOME BROADBAND USER Watch TV online, download music and films or upload videos and photos in an instant Enjoy online gaming without interruption Connect with family, friends and colleagues face to face with high definition video and webcams Discover new opportunities with interactive learning BUSINESS BROADBAND USER Able to access cloud based services, online meetings and video conferencing Employees able to work from home easily Creative industries able to move large audio and video files to and from customers and suppliers. Online training and distance learning - can cut costs and save time travelling from rural areas

4 4 Don t just take our word for it... What do you think? I am 81, but a Skype user and computer savvy...when our son comes to visit, he needs to be able to continue his work online, including video conferencing and large data downloads. I do not yet have a smart phone or use the TV s WiFi connection but this should make it possible As a professional photographer and web developer a great deal of my time is spent online and broadband speed is increasingly important to me. Technology in the area of photography now means that clients are expecting bigger and bigger files sizes and they want them very soon after a shoot I have a job with a European responsibility and use broadband for international videoconferencing, audio conferencing and on-line training and development. I need the additional bandwidth to be able to use these technologies more effectively, especially the video-conferencing features Follow Digital Rutland on

5 5 Our work continues through into 2014 Hard to reach areas With over 8000 premises in Rutland already able to sign-up for superfast broadband, attention now turns to the parts of county where high speed broadband presents more of a challenge. Most homes and businesses signing up to fibre packages will get download speeds as high as 80Mbps. However, in a few parts of Rutland, particularly where villages are located further from the main telephone exchange, or cabinet, achieving the top speeds is unlikely. DIGITAL RUTLAND AREAS As of 1 October 2013, a total of four communities (Barrow, Glaston, Teigh & Whitwell) have been identified as needing further work. It is looking very likely that, subject to detailed survey work, these will be enabled mid There are other smaller communities that we are also planning into the later stages of our project, so that we can use the latest technology available to bring the best possible speeds to those areas. COMMERCIAL AREAS Although State Aid rules prevent the council from upgrading areas that find themselves on the edge of the private sector s commercial rollout of fibre broadband (e.g. some villages on the outskirts of Oakham and Stamford), the Digital Rutland team will continue doing everything we can to assist those communities to achieve the best possible connections.

6 6 Ordering fibre broadband? A step-by-step guide about what to do 1. Is fibre broadband available? Visit the broadband cabinet checker on the Digital Rutland website to find out if Fibre to the Cabinet (FTTC) is available in your area. 2. Check your current contract If you are still within your contract, most broadband providers will allow you to upgrade to a fibre package. 3. Find a great deal There are plenty of comparison websites that allow you to compare packages or look out for offers in local and national media. Things to look out for include: Speed - an indication of your likely speeds Usage - is your monthly usage capped Contract - how long you are committing to Calls - can your combine your telephone package Offers - look out for incentives from providers 4. Make your decision Place your order and await further instructions from your chosen provider. An Engineer will visit your home to carry out the installation of your equipment.

7 7 Some of your frequently asked questions Will my broadband speed increase automatically? No, fibre broadband is different from the broadband connection that you already receive. You need to speak to your current/future broadband provider about signing up to a fibre package. My area is listed as having a superfast connection, but my broadband company tells me no service is available. This could be because your local connection has only just been switched on and it takes time for this information to filter through. It could also be because speeds are lower than the threshold set by many automated online checkers. We advise contacting your provider by phone in both instances. Find a full list of FAQs on the Digital Rutland website. If you still have any questions... Contact Digital Rutland Our most recent updates are at You can also contact us by at digitalrutland@rutland.gov.uk or why not follow us on Digital Rutland is funded by Rutland County Council, BT and BDUK (Department for Culture, Media & Sport). BT was chosen by the Council following an extensive and thorough selection process.

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