10 July 2015
Project update – 10 July -UPDATED!
Over the past couple of weeks we have reached some fantastic milestones. As part of the £18.8 million project we have now laid over 335 kilometres of underground fibre optic cables with over 45,000 premises now live!
Cabinets now live:
These green cabinets (usually stood at the side of your road) are now enabled with fibre broadband meaning you should talk to your current communications provider about purchasing fibre or visit the Superfast Leicestershire website for more information on fibre broadband providers.
- Cabinet 1 on the FLECKNEY exchange
- Cabinet 3 on the PEATLING MAGNA exchange
- Cabinet 39 on the MELTON MOWBRAY exchange
- Cabinets 7 on the STOKE GOLDING exchange
Fleckney – Bryars Close (Saddington)
Peatling Magna – Mill Hill Road (Arnesby)
Melton Mowbray – Marigold Crescent (Melton Mowbray)
Stoke Golding – Main St (Higham on the Hill)
Please be aware that as cabinets go live they take a couple of weeks before you will be able to order the fibre broadband. Providers can sometimes take time to become available on the fibre network. To get the best deal, wait 2-3 weeks when the market becomes more competitive. Find out more on our FAQ pages.
Cabinets experiencing challenges:
These cabinets are currently experiencing some difficult challenges and are being worked on daily to be resolved. They are also treated as a priority within the project.
Leire 5 (Claybrooke Magna) – The remaining cabinet on the Leire exchange, covering Claybrooke Magna (the Ullesthorpe cabinet is part of the Superfast Extension Programme) has been worked on for the past few weeks. There have been some challenges deploying this cabinet – primarily blockages from silt and tree roots in the underground duct. In some instances brute force can be exerted to unblock the underground ducting. Unfortunately this has not been possible in this case and civils work is required in Frolesworth Lane.
In most instances such civils work can be managed with temporary traffic lights and the road can remain open. Frolesworth Lane is so narrow that a full road closure will be required for 2 nights. Despite being a minor road a full consultation, diversion and legal noticing is required.
Leicestershire County Council highways team have confirmed that work is due to commence on 12 August 2015. Cabinet now expected to be live towards the end of September.
Desford 12 & 13 (Botcheston, Peckleton) – Due to the location and surrounding area these two cabinets have taken some time to be able to start planning. BT are currently working on the plans and they are predicting that they will be ready in December 2015.
Woodhouse Eaves 4 & 5 (parts of Woodhouse & Woodhouse Eaves) – BT have confirmed that they on track for these two cabinets will be ready to go live at the end of September 2015.
Husbands Bosworth 5 (Husbands Bosworth) – There has been good progress and a location has been confirmed. BT have predicted that the cabinet, with the progress they are making, will be live toward the end of September 2015.
Narborough 35,36 & 37 (parts of Narborough) – A change in the programme has meant that these cabinets are not expected to be live until December 2015.
Earl Shilton 6 (Kirby Mallory) – This cabinet is awaiting power but BT will inform us as work progresses. BT have not yet issued an expected live date but we will keep you in the loop.
Markfield 2,4,10,13 & 14 (Markfield, Newtown Linford) – These cabinets are all having issues with the main fibre network (spine) due to blockages from silt and tree roots in the underground ducts. Work is on-going to clear these. BT have not yet issued an expected live date but we will keep you in the loop.
Please be aware that these dates are subject to change depending on the individual situation. The Superfast Leicestershire team will continue to keep you updated with the latest changes. Sign up here or follow the Twitter updates using the hashtag #SuperfastLeics
Cabinets stood:
This refers to the new green boxes which stand usually adjacent to the existing green roadside box in your village. The new cabinet will house all the fibre connections; the existing green box houses the copper telephone lines. The two are then joined together.
We’ve been busy connecting cabinets and working on our cabinets experiencing difficulties so no cabinets were stood this week.
Watching Wimbledon this weekend? With fibre broadband you can get your summer sorted with catch-up tv and the latest music. Follow @leicscountyhall #Supersoundsummer #Supersportysummer.