Internet Service Provider (ISP) WightFibre is now able to provide 15,000 homes and businesses on the Isle of Wight with a full-fibre service as part of its Gigabit Island project.

Homes in Ryde, Sandown, Wootton, Cowes, Gurnard, Northwood, East Cowes, Newport and surrounding areas including Carisbrooke, now have access to the service.

The full-fibre can run up to speeds of 900Mb, making it one of the fastest broadband speeds available worldwide.

Commenting on the latest release, WightFibre CEO John Irvine said: “This is a significant milestone in our project and demonstrates the project is well underway and on track to deliver full-fibre broadband across the Isle of Wight.

“Parts of Ryde and Sandown are included in the 15,000 homes passed and work is already underway to connect parts of Shanklin in the next couple of months as well.

“WightFibre’s point to point full-fibre network (where every home gets its own dedicated fibre optic cable rather than sharing with others) is fairly unique in the UK and will set the island apart from others allowing WightFibre to deliver an amazing customer experience.”

Recommended

• Increased Demand on Internet Services Not an Issue, say Broadband Firms
• 531 Carphone Warehouse Stores to Close With 2,900 Redundancies
• AI Technology to Aid Touch-free Interface Demand After Coronavirus

Bob Seely MP said: “This is good news for the island and a fantastic start to WightFibre’s Gigabit Island project.

“We need to start levelling up the island and the Government’s full-fibre broadband programme will help deliver this ultra-fast broadband to all Island properties over the next few years.

“This project is providing the island with some of the best broadband available anywhere in the world.”

WightFibre received a £35 million investment from Infracapital in 2017 to install ultra-fast broadband in its attempt to create its new ‘Gigabit Island’ by 2021. The company was the first in the UK to receive investment from the government’s new Digital Infrastructure Investment Fund, which was launched by HM Treasury in July, 2017.

Chris Ashman, director of regeneration for the Isle of Wight Council, commented at the time: “Good broadband infrastructure is an important factor in attracting new investment and new jobs to the island, and sits alongside the aspirations we have for our emerging Island digital strategy.

“This investment in WightFibre will make the island an even more attractive place to live and work for companies considering setting up here.”