Melton, Charnwood, and Harborough, nestled in Leicestershire, are calling on residents to pledge their support for the expansion of ultrafast broadband connectivity to homes and businesses in the region. Leicestershire County Council is actively promoting the initiative, encouraging residents from approximately 25 villages to sign up for free vouchers aimed at supporting Openreach’s broadband infrastructure development, part of a government-led scheme.
Should a sufficient number of residents participate, these villages will join over 40,000 homes and businesses across Leicestershire already benefiting from full fibre broadband.
Councillor Pam Posnett, Cabinet Member for Communities, including broadband, highlighted the advantages of full fibre technology, emphasizing its reliability, resilience, and future-proof capabilities. She stated that it results in fewer faults, consistent speeds, and the capacity to meet growing data demands. Moreover, it is built to serve future generations without the need for frequent upgrades.
Posnett added, “Rolling out fast speeds is a priority. Shortly, we’re launching GigaHubs across the county, helping families, businesses, and remote workers access lightning-fast connections.”
Wendy Sycamore, Openreach’s Regional Engagement Manager, expressed excitement about the prospect. She stated that around 5,000 homes and businesses in villages surrounding Melton, Charnwood, and Harborough could access the benefits of ultrafast, highly reliable full fibre broadband, provided the pledge target for the scheme is met.
Sycamore urged residents to pledge a voucher, underlining the importance of their contribution in making these Leicestershire communities some of the best-connected places in the UK.
Once the pledge target is achieved, residents must validate their vouchers with the Government to allow Openreach to commence construction. Funding conditions require residents to commit to ordering a full fibre service from a provider of their choice for a minimum of 12 months once the new network becomes available and confirming their connection.
