Gigaclear, which provides high speed fibre-optic broadband services to rural communities in the UK, has secured a contract under which it will deploy ultrafast internet connectivity to more than 11,700 premises across West Berkshire. The company noted that this was the third contract it had secured in recent weeks, having previously signed on to provide similar services in the Cotswolds and Essex.
With this latest contract awarded as part of the Superfast Berkshire Project, Gigaclear highlighted the fact that its selection represented the first time in Berkshire that an operator other than fixed line incumbent BT had been awarded a contract under the government-subsidised Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme, which seeks to bring broadband of at least 24Mbps to 95% of the UK. For its part, Gigaclear has said it will invest more than GBP4 (USD6.22) per GBP1 of state aid it receives.
Commenting on the securing of the contract, Matthew Hare, Gigaclear’s chief executive, said: ‘We’re delighted to celebrate a hat-trick of successes in being selected to bring ultrafast broadband to the Cotswolds, Epping Forest in Essex and now West Berkshire. Giving these areas one of the best and most reliable broadband services in the world means businesses and residents of all ages will benefit. We are excited that these investments will make a significant contribution to economic development as well as transforming the online education, communications, entertainment and business experience.’
