The roll out of fibre broadband will enable businesses across the region to access faster broadband speeds.  FTTC (Fibre to the Cabinet) is the main technology being rolled out, connecting fibre to the street cabinet and then using existing copper cable into your premises.

In Hertfordshire there is a plan to increase fibre broadband coverage to least 90 per cent of businesses and residents by the end of March 2016. Over 50 cabinets are now ‘live’ across the region with a further 105 in progress.

What is Fibre Optic Broadband?

Fibre Optic broadband is the  latest advancement in broadband technology, promising super-fast speeds for all of your daily internet needs. Plastic or glass cables allow for faster data transfer compared to the standard copper wires which are used in regular broadband connections.

How Fast is superfast Fibre broadband ?

The advantage of fibre optic broadband is the increase in speed, letting you watch videos, browse pages and play games faster than ever. But just how quick is the service? Fibre potentially offers speeds over 10 GB/s although the average broadband speed in the UK is up 80MB/s. For most businesses the distance from your local phone cabinet will still determine  the actual speed you receive.

Do I need it ? 

It depends upon your business – are you using cloud services, how many staff do you have, what are you using the internet for ? If you store your files remotely, upload lots of files, or download lots of images, then you will certainly see the benefits.

When is it available ? 

To find if your exchange is one of those planned for the go to http://www.connectedcounties.org/check-availability  Bear in mind that this information is updated on a monthly basis.