LIGHTNING fast internet speeds are being pledged for parts of Wokingham borough this year thanks to a new fibre-based gigabit broadband service.
Gigaclear has announced its plans for 2018 and includes large area that have been previously been poorly serviced by traditional copper-based internet services. The company’s new hi-tech broadband lines offer some of the fastest speeds in the country, with up to 1 gigabit on offer.
Grazeley is the first area in the borough to receive the service in the first quarter of this year.
Other areas will get service upgrades as the year progress.
Alphabetically, Arborfield Cross, Arborfield East, Binfield, will be completed by the end of the year, Farley Hill by the autumn, Finchampstead East and South will be on line by the end of spring 2019, Finchampstead West will launch early next year, as will Gardeners Green and Sindlesham North and South.
Swallowfield, Three Mile Cross and Waltham St Lawrence should be completed by the autumn of this year, while Wargrave should see the superfast speeds by the end of the summer.
The service differs from traditional broadband providers in that it uses fibre optic cables to the home, guaranteeing the high speeds.
There are a number of packages available that are suitable for homes and businesses and customers will be able to sign up to an internet based phone service called Vonage. This enables people to make and receive telephone calls as they normally would, but the phone plugs into the router rather than the phone socket.
Joe Frost, Business Development Director at Gigaclear, said: “We are delighted to, once again, be future proofing connectivity for rural homes and businesses in Berkshire.
“This further cements our commitment to the area and to improving the quality of lives for those who live here, whether that be work, entertainment or play.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Superfast Berkshire team to help bring the county up to speed, quite literally!”
And the news was welcomed by Wokingham Borough Council.
Cllr Stuart Munro, executive member for business and economic development and regeneration, said: “This is fantastic news for our residents, local businesses and the borough as a whole because of the benefits superfast broadband brings.
“We’ve worked closely with our partners in Superfast Berkshire and the programme has been a great success. Coverage in our borough will rise to 99.53% and Berkshire will become one of the best served counties for superfast broadband across the UK.”
To find out when your area will be upgraded visit www.gigaclear.com/superfastberkshire
