Otmoor villages set for world-class connectivity speed and reliability

Oxfordshire, 20 March 2014 - Gigaclear, the ultrafast fibre optic broadband provider, has confirmed that Otmoor, Oxfordshire will be the next community to benefit from its world-class connectivity speed and reliability. Comprising 700 properties across six of the Otmoor villages, which include Beckley, Elsfield, Horton cum Studley, Noke, Stanton St. John and Woodeaton. This announcement re-enforces Gigaclear’s commitment to bring broadband speeds of up to 1000 Mbps (one Gbps) into easier reach of rural businesses and residents.

Despite numerous attempts to enhance the speed of the existing infrastructure, many Otmoor residents reported that the best internet speeds they could manage were up to 1 Mbps - the equivalent of being able to download an iPlayer programme over several hours, but not streamed in real-time.

Frustrated at the limitations of the existing broadband network, the residents decided to look for an alternative solution.

“We had heard how Gigaclear’s network has successfully transformed internet access in other Oxfordshire villages, and were interested in replicating this in Otmoor,” says Lorraine Dixon, Otmoor Broadband champion. “We held an initial meeting in the village hall and in reality, Gigaclear’s fibre to the home product sold itself. Demand for the network from residents, including young people keen to embrace social media, has been high since the start.

“While most residents plan to use the network for entertainment purposes, for others, it will now provide an opportunity to work from home, eliminating hefty commutes and improving their work/life balance. We’re delighted that Gigaclear has confirmed its intention to build in Otmoor and have high hopes for the impact it will have on our day-to-day lives.”

Balvinder Gill, Landlord of The Abingdon Arms, a community pub in the Otmoor village of Beckley comments, “We are looking forward to an enhanced customer experience as a result of faster broadband. Customers will have access to an uninterrupted broadband service and we’ll have the option of streaming music or sporting events to make their time at the pub more enjoyable. We sometimes have delays processing card transactions at peak times. Better broadband will mean customers no longer have to wait.”

“Momentum for Gigaclear continues to grow as more underserved rural communities discover how ultrafast fibre optic broadband is already transforming Internet use in neighbouring villages,” says Matthew Hare, chief executive, Gigaclear. “The six communities in Otmoor will substantially expand the number of customers in Oxfordshire served by Gigaclear’s fibre to the premises network. Once complete, Gigaclear will have invested over £3 million in improving the Oxfordshire’s communications infrastructure, helping make the county one of the best places in the world to live and work.”

Network construction at Otmoor is due to start in May 2014 and the new ultrafast broadband service will be fully operational by the end of August.