Is this the end for Unitiserve/HDX?

Bruce - ok sounds like unlucky,,,

Tony - actually Suffolk has UK/EU funding for Broadband reach and expects to have at least  95%  superfast coverage by 2017/18 and a universal 2Mbps. This includes an additional infill programme for those areas not covered in the first rural superfast rollout wave which met 85% of dwellings. I am in this second wave infill and we are scheduled for our low density rural broadband for 2018, with work to start beginning 2016. SCC have confirmed funding and are or have now tendered contracts. We most likely will get the new 'fibre to remote node' technology for our village which is designed for low density rural locations and urban infill and provide a mini cab upto  96 lines. 

So Suffolk unlike perhaps some other rural counties will be well positioned for rural superfast.

There are several local set ups - and one very close to me on the coast with a microwave link - these will for the most part be eventually redundant or at least superfluous, but its great you have access now.

If you contact me and you are interested I can put you in contact with the Business Development Specialist at SCC part responsible for the rural roll out plan who can confirm the coverage for your village/location.

Simon

I was aware of the situation regarding broadband in Suffolk Simon; a local councellor got the bit between his teeth but in the end got extremely frustrated with BT. It seems some folk at the end of our lane will eventually get decent broadband but there are no plans to extend it down to our little hamlet. Seems we're to be the 5%.

A local landowner recently spent a fortune renovating an old farmhouse with the intention of renting it out, but he had a real stuggle getting a decent rent; most people were put of by the slow broadband available in the isolated spot. I did investigate the possibility of doing it ourselves - laying a fibre cable from the nearest BT access point. Alas, my neighbours weren't really interested ("Broadband? What's Broadband?").

Tony indeed I am a local councillor too in Suffolk, and I can say it was not an issue specifically with BT with the initial coverage - they could only tender for the contracts on offer for the rural (subsidised) broadband - but I cant go to too much detail here.

I am surprised you can be so certain on coverage, because the survey work hasnot started, as far as I am aware,  for the infill programme. The reach will radiate out from remote node - and you should be good for approx. a 2km radius around that node.

The infill maps have not been published on the Broadband Suffolk website.

Of course for the complete isolated dwelling - there is always Satellite on Ka band - and that can work very well too with good bandwidths- but not as cheap as superfast and has higher contention.

Maybe things have changed now Simon (I hope) but our friendly councellor showed us some maps showing anticipated high-speed broadband coverage, admittedly a couple of years ago now (time has no meaning for me these days), and it missed us out. I find it a very frustrating business but I guess that's the penalty for living in the back of beyond.

yep you are right - and whenever public money is involved, as with rural broadband, its not straightforward. Yes the infill programme and approx. coverage has been planned and agreed within the last two years. Your councillor should be able to get the infil details and confirm whether your village, hamlet, settlement etc is covered, any issues getting the contact reach out. Its also likely your councillor would have been lobbying for infill - I did on behalf of my village so as to avoid being in a 'not spot' and being part of that <5%

Our local MP is one of the government leads for rural UK broadband development.

I get no DAB , no mobile signal and a poor phone line. I love living there-all worth it!

Bruce

Just out of intrest I live in Rendlesham (IP12 2) and had BT Infinity fitted 18th June. I'm some fair distance from my local exchange (Eyke) but average 70 Mbps down & 16 Mbps up. This is sooner than expected as it wasn't due until late Summer. I'm very pleased with the service (my kids more so) but it has allowed me to consider music streaming services such as TIDAL and TV services such as Netflix which I do now have. I did consider County Broadband (wireless offering) but didn't think the packages were very competitive but I understand from friends and neighbours that it works very well but does suffer more contention than fixed line services. When needs must and there's no other option then it's certainly worth considering.