TalkTalk’s FibreNation project, which aims to bring 1Gbps-capable full fibre broadband to three million households, is advancing, as the budget ISP partners with civil engineering firm Makehappen.
The “multi-million pound” partnership will support “UK-wide” deployment of TalkTalk’s wholly-owned wholesale full fibre network.
Currently, the ISP’s full fibre rollout has been limited to York, where they have reached 33,000 premises and aim to reach 55,000 by 2020. TalkTalk claims the rollout is making York the UK’s “first gigabit city,” with the “most extensive city-wide fibre infrastructure available in the country.”
However, TalkTalk’s wider FibreNation project, announced last year, stalled after a £1.5 billion financing deal with Infracapital fell through.
TalkTalk is still looking for investment into the project but is pushing ahead with a more limited rollout in the meantime, targeting 60,000 premises in Harrogate, Knaresborough, and Ripon. The recently announced deal with Makehappen suggests installation of these networks is imminent, with nationwide rollout penciled in for the next few years.
Extending its network to these towns and cities will give TalkTalk’s wholesale full fibre network a footprint of around 100,000 premises.
Makehappen claims to have developed processes that enable quick and safe installation of full fibre networks with “less disruption to residents and business owners.”
Paul Crane, Head of Rollout at FibreNation, said: “Full fibre is more than just a quick internet connection; it connects us to our community and how we run our lives day to day. It encourages business growth and builds a stronger, smarter society and we must embrace it now to future proof our economy and take advantage of all the opportunities a fibre-connected future can provide.”
Chris Hart, CEO of Makehappen, said: “Makehappen is proud to have formed a venture to partner with FibreNation to help roll out a network to a further three million homes and businesses around the UK.”
