Superfast fibre broadband to be rolled out to new areas of York

The team who’ve brought blazing fast broadband to the very heart of York are now expanding the network to new parts of the city.

Businesses struggling with achingly slow internet speeds in the city centre have seen their digital fortunes transformed after being connected up by UK Fibre Networks.

They can now attain speeds of up to 900Mbps – and that same lightning-fast broadband is now being delivered to other areas of York.

Pete Evans, UK Fibre Networks director, told YorkMix: “The plan is to roll out superfast broadband to all 8,000 premises within the city walls during 2024.

“And it’s not just broadband – we will be able to offer a voice connection as well, so they’ll only need to come to one place for both their broadband and their phone.”

These are the next phases of the rollout:

• Phase 1: Gillygate area – from this month
• Phase 2: Micklegate area – starts April
• Phase 3: Walmgate area – starts July
• Phase 4: Goodramgate / Stonebow – starts September

The Phase 1 connections are happening now on Gillygate itself and surrounding streets including High Petergate, Bootham, Marygate, Lord Mayor’s Walk and Claremont Terrace.

UK Fibre Networks is so sure that this will transform the digital lives of York residents and businesses, that it has a special pledge.

“Where people are stuck in contracts, we can look to buy them out of their old contract – or give them a free service until their existing contract expires,” Pete said.

“It’s like a try before you buy. You don’t incur more costs, but you get the advantage of having superfast broadband while you’re waiting for your old contract to finish.”

Meet the team

Based in the York Hub on Peter Lane, UK Fibre Networks is easy to reach for both people interested in signing up, or existing customers needing support.

To enquire, contact the team via [email protected]

Alternatively, you can meet the team at a series of drop in events. They take place at the Osbornes@68 cafe on 68 Gillygate from 11am to 3pm on these dates:

• Wednesday 31 January
• Wednesday 7 February
• Wednesday 14 February
• Wednesday 21 February
• Wednesday 28 February.

UK Fibre Networks have been able to bring superfast broadband to the centre of York where others have failed because they don’t have to dig up the city’s historic streets.

Instead, working with City of York Council, they have created a unique solution which sees the fibre cables run to homes and businesses across buildings, often using existing fixings like those for the city’s Christmas lights.

For York businesses, access to the superfast broadband has “revolutionised how they operate”, says Pete.

And for residents too, streaming video and playing online games are now a cinch without the nightmare of constant buffering that they used to endure.

Soon the superfast fibre network will become even faster, Pete says. “We’re up to 900Mbps now, but we’re currently upgrading the network which will increase that by up to eight times.

“It’s a dedicated fibre – and it’s future-proof.”