BT Superfast Broadband updated at 30/11/12

At a time when organisations around the UK are seeking investment partners to bring super-fast technologies to their areas and give them a competitive edge, Innerleithen has shot straight to the forefront of Digital Britain making them the best connected community in Scotland. BT is investing thousands of man hours in this upgrade and installing 112 kilometres of fibre to give Innerleithen one of the highest percentages of fibre coverage to be found anywhere in the UK.

99.4% of households and businesses in Innerleithen will see an increase in speed, while 96.4% will have speeds topping 15Mbps. 3% will receive between 2Mbps and 15Mbps. The 0.6% represents 11 premises in remote locations towards the very North of the district. And fibre speeds are set to get even faster next year with FTTC roughly doubling from up to 40Mbps to up to 80Mbps and FTTP soaring to up to 300Mbps. Innerleithen will not only benefit from fibre to the cabinet super-fast broadband (FTTC) – the type that is currently being rolled out in Scotland – but will be the first in Scotland for fibre to the premises super-fast broadband (FTTP) which boasts even faster speeds.
Innerleithen was the only Scottish town to win BT's Race to Infinity – a UK wide competition for Superfast Broadband.

Openreach, BT's local network division, is currently carrying out overnight engineering works in the district and is on track to be ready to accept orders for super-fast broadband services in Innerleithen from March 2012.

For further information please contact the BT Scotland press office on 0800 085 0660 or locally Brian McCrow, Community Campaign Organiser, 1 Cardrona Way, Cardrona EH45 9LD 01896 833188, 07712 841768, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Technical notes:

1. Openreach will lay large fibre pipes along the A72 from Innerleithen to the Peebles exchange where the back haul equipment will be installed with links up to Edinburgh and thence into the UK broadband networks. This fibre cable will be "squirted" down the existing duct along the A72 however the engineers may be required to dig up the ground to clear the blockage. This work will be carried out at night to minimise any traffic disruption.
2. The Innerleithen exchange will not be involved in this Superfast Broadband implementation and service but will continue for the existing phone and slow broadband services. Properties within Innerleithen who are currently directly connected to the Innerleithen exchange will have a new direct connection via FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) from the Peebles exchange. These are mainly along the High Street and will require a physical fibre connection to be made into their premises. There will be some disruption along the High Street while the fibre cable is laid but this will be minimised as far as possible by flexible working hours.
3. Other properties are currently connected via a street cabinet and will not require any connection into their premises as it will continue to be via the existing copper line. However, a new fibre termination cabinet will be installed alongside the existing street cabinet in order to link the new fibre to the existing copper lines. These will require planning approval and your Community Council will ensure that they fit well within the street.
4. Cardrona will take fibre links from the A72 fibre cable to the new street cabinet next to the existing copper cabinet across from the A72. This will cover all of the properties built after 1999. BT have employed another first in this implementation by switching other properties in the Cardrona area onto this cabinet so they will enjoy faster speeds than if they remained connected to their existing street cabinet, which is further away from their properties. All Cardrona properties will enjoy greater than 15Mbps.
5. The final connection to Superfast Broadband will not be automatic as users have to sign up either with BT Retail or another ISP. It is suggested that users contact their ISP to determine if they will commit to putting equipment in the Peebles exchange in support of Superfast Broadband.
6. As any example of the costs of Superfast Broadband check with this BT Retail price - www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25633&s_cid=con_ppc_maxus_vidZ59_Broadband&vendorid=Z473&sissr=1
7. Superfast Broadband should open up possibilities for extra facilities such as BT Vision - www.productsandservices.bt.com/consumerProducts/displayTopic.do?topicId=25634&s_cid=con_ppc_maxus_vidSP4_Vision&vendorid=SP4&sissr=1
8. Roll-out schedule:
Orders for Superfast Broadband can be placed before the end of March 2012
The A72 spine and FTTC cabinets will be installed December 2011 to March 2012
FTTP for 10% of the Innerleithen properties, December 2011 till July 2012

As with all implementation it is best to place orders as early as possible so that plans and equipment orders can be finalised in time for your personal service requirements.