Access to fast, reliable broadband is essential for the succes of businesses in the 21st century and Essex FSB has been lobbying hard for such services to be provided. We believe that wireless broadband services can provide the fast reliable service (100Mbps) that we are aiming to achieve at a fraction of the cost of traditional cable based broadband.
Enterprise Zone boost for Broadband
In August 2011 the Government approved proposals for the West Essex Enterprise Zone @ Harlow - a project supported by Essex FSB and the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) - which brings big benefits for 126 acres of employment land on two sites in Harlow.
A key part of the five year programme to deliver the Enterprisse Zones targets is the provision of superfast, reliable broadband and Essex FSB will be working with Harlow District Council and other partners to deliver these objectives.
DCSM Allocation for Broadband in Essex
In August 2011 it was announced that Essex was to receive £6.46 million to help finance expansion of broadband in the county dependent on match funding.
Essex FSB is working with Essex County Council and other partners to maximise the benefits that this funding will bring for businesses across the county.
Essex Broadband Strategy Group
Essex FSB has a seat on this group which is developing strategy to maximise the amount of funding attracted to Essex and how the money is spent to maximise benefits for the business community.
The group is administered by Essex County Council
SELEP Work Programme
Broadband is a high priority for the South East Local Enterprise Partnership (SELEP) with bids being made for Government funding to provide faster broadband service in Essex.
Essex FSB has a seat on the SELEP Board and is encouraging the development of plans to further enhance broadband provision when Government funding ends in 2015.
Wireless Broadband - Maldon Pilot
Essex FSB backed the Maldon Wireless Broadband Pilot Project which launched on 01 June 2010 and offers a 100mbps service.
The pilot project was also backed by Essex County Council, Maldon District Council and Maldon Local Strategic Partnership.
The Next Generation Broadband service provides Urban and Rural areas with high speed broadband at amazing Super Fast 25Mb & Ultra Fast 50Mb connection speeds.
What's more the service is SDSL which means you are able to upload as fast as you are able to download, perfect for businesses and online gamers.
FibreWiFi is delivered by radio so there is no need for telephone lines meaning that the service is accessible in areas that standard broadband providers simply do not reach.
Wireless Broadband - Uttlesford
The success of the Maldon Pilot Project has led Essex FSB to lobby for similar schemes elsewhere in the county and Uttlesford went live in Sepember 2011.
Broadband in Colchester
Colchester Borough Council is planning to become UK's First High Speed Broadband Borough and agreed plans in July 2011.
A national survey conducted in October 2010 by the consumer site http://www.broadband-expert.co.uk/ found that the average download speed in the Borough was 4.2 Mbps, the eighth slowest in the UK. In some rural areas of the borough, which are home to 33% of residents and 25% of businesses, current broadband speeds are 0.5-2Mbps. The Rural Broadband proposals will increase this to a minimum 25 Mbps
Essex FSB has been part of the partnership working with Colchester Council on this project.
The proposals include providing significantly higher speed broadband connectivity (typically 40 – 50 Mbps) and 4th Generation wireless (20 Mbps) to visitors, residents and businesses throughout the borough. Colchester itself will become the first "high speed digital wireless town" in the UK, giving the borough a competitive edge, particularly over the next five years.
The preferred suppliers are: Digital Wireless Town recommended partner, The Cloud; High Speed Urban and Business Broadband recommended partner, Motorola and BriskNet; and Rural Broadband recommended partner, County Broadband.
Wireless Broadband - Other Areas
Essex FSB is also in discussions with councils in Brentwood, Epping Forest, Rochford and Tendring to see if the wireless broadband service can be extended to those areas too.
Latest News
For the latest news on the campaign go to Essex News and insert "Broadband" in the search engine.