The best fibre optic broadband deal doesn’t use fibre optic

You know the drill by now. You search online for the best fibre optic broadband deal and get the same results -the same companies, the same deals, the same sinking feeling.

Like groundhog day but without the light-hearted ending.

The problem is you want the fastest internet possible and you’ve been told that fibre optic is the only way to go.

You might have even checked whether it’s available and seen the huge monthly fees or the long wait until a company has installed fibre in your area.

Get 6G Internet Superfast broadband

Well those aren’t your only options. Because without wanting to sound like a stage-hypnotist, you’re not actually looking for fibre optic broadband at all. You’re looking for high speed superfast internet.

Ofcom defines ultra fast broadband as any speed over 300 mbps

The difference is not just semantics. In numbers, ultrafast is anything over 300 mbps, which requires technology beyond the standard copper cable that connects most homes to their internet. But that doesn’t mean you have to replace one cable with another. If you are in Thornton-Cleveleys, Fleetwood or Bolton you can receive 300 Mbps from 6G Internet, use the link below to check if your address is on net.

Check if you can receive ultrafast broadband from 6G Internet.

Fixed wireless broadband is quick and easy to install

Our fixed wireless broadband is capable of ultrafast speeds, and because installing it doesn’t involve digging up every street in town, it’s much cheaper for us to run compared to fibre optic broadband.

That means two things:

We can bring ultrafast internet to an area much quicker than other companies
We can charge our customers much less for speeds that previously only fibre optic cables could achieve

Ultrafast broadband is coming to Blackburn

It’s still early days, but we are already in the process of making Blackburn one of the first-ever gigabit-capable towns in the UK, meaning residents will soon have access to speeds of 1,000 mbps as standard.

100 Mbps Broadband Blackburn

Speeds are currently capped at 100 mbps for £21, but will soon get faster as we get our network fully established.

If you’re a Blackburn resident you might also be eligible for the government’s Gigabit Voucher scheme, meaning your connection to our network could be completely subsidised.

Why not check if it’s available in your area.

Blackburn’s super-fast broadband to offer £40m business boost

Blackburn’s new gigabit capable broadband network could boost the local economy by up to £40m and generate almost 2,000 jobs, according to a report by Ofcom.

Fibre speed broadband network could increase employment by nearly 3%

The report, titled The Benefits of Ultrafast Broadband Deployment, concludes that a full-fibre network within a town results in an increase in employment of 2.9%[1] and a boost to local GDP of 1.1%[2].

High speed superfast broadband comes to Blackburn

The roll-out of the IX Wireless broadband network will see 6G Internet able to reach 38,000 Blackburn premises connected over the next 24 months, and will be capable of reaching speeds of 6,000 Mbps by 2025.

Ofcom report highlights the opportunities available with fibre speed broadband

According to the Ofcom report, the new network will help create more small enterprises, with a significant positive impact on Blackburn businesses that rely on ICT skills, such as in the commerce, service and transport sectors.

Super-fast broadband boosts productivity and reduces congestion

The super-fast broadband being delivered in Blackburn will also provide environmental benefits by allowing more people to do their jobs online from home, reducing the number of commuters on the roads.

High speed Broadband Helps Power Smart homes in Blackburn

The rise of smart houses and the Internet of Things means that the network will allow more people to customise their home’s security, surveillance, energy, healthcare and entertainment systems.

Neil Knighton, communications manager for IX Wireless, said: “The new IX Wireless wireless broadband network will result in Blackburn having some of the fastest internet in the UK.

“As a gigabit capable town, more residents and businesses will be able to take advantage of technology and services that are at the cutting edge of what is possible.
Neil Knighton

“We are working hard to ensure the new network is rolled out across Blackburn over the next two years and we’re very excited to see the impact this new technology will have on the town.

“We are continuing to work closely with local communities to ensure minimal disruption. If any residents have concerns or questions about work on their street, they can call our helpline on 01254 405 000.”

How fibre speed fixed wireless networks in Blackburn

Delivered by wireless transmitters installed on roof-tops, telecommunication masts, monopoles and street poles, the new network allows residents to get high speed super-fast broadband without needing a telephone line.

The initial broadband package offered by 6G Internet will be capped at 100 mbps for £21 per month, but speeds will increase as the network becomes more established.

Gigabit Voucher Scheme for communities around Blackburn

In addition, the government’s Gigabit Voucher scheme means eligible residents and businesses can have the cost of installation completely subsidised, meaning they pay no connection fee.

However, should businesses require a faster connection straight away, IX Wireless can also install a physical fibre line at half the market price for immediate access to gigabit speeds.

With 6G Internet listed as an approved supplier by the government’s BDUK programme, its expansion in Blackburn comes as part of wider plans to reach four million homes across the UK by 2022.

[1] Pg 61: In Canada, Singer et al. (2015) investigated the effect of FTTP (i.e. full-fibre) rollout on employment on the basis of the deployment experiences in 39 regions between 2009 and 2014. They estimate that fibre deployment to 100% of a region is associated with an increase in employment of about 2.9% – even if the region already previously benefited from a broadband infrastructure.

With 63,500 people in employment in Blackburn, an increase of 2.9% is 1,841 jobs.

[2] Pg 74: One of the very few studies to focus on ultrafast broadband specifically, by the Analysis Group (2015) estimated that Gigabit broadband communities in the US exhibited a per-capita GDP approximately 1.1% higher than the 41 similar communities with little to no availability of Gigabit services.

Blackburn’s gross value added (GVA) total for 2017 was £3.05bn. The ONS says that the difference between GDP and GVA can vary by around 0.2%. This means that even by conservative estimates, an 0.9% increase in Blackburn’s GVA would result in a boost of £27.5m to the economy. A 1.3% increase in the GVA would result in a boost of £39.7m.

Five uses for your now redundant telephone line

The landline is dying a remarkably quick death. Having kept families in touch for the more than a century, house phone calls have halved in the last 6 years alone.

Unsurprisingly, the growth of internet data being used by households is showing no signs of slowing down. More people are using web apps like Skype or WhatsApp for calls, with record numbers of the older generation getting online to stay connected with their families.

The joys of internet without line rental

Internet without line rental happens to be one of the nice little extras you get with 6G Internet’s wireless broadband, which means you don’t even need a landline to stay online.

With no need to use it for the internet or calls, your telephone line is pretty much useless when you join us. So what’s the point in keeping it around?

Well, I suppose it depends on how much you enjoy paying line rental. If you still want to pay the monthly fee to keep your telephone line, we have come up with five helpful options so you can make the most of it.

Uses for your now redundant telephone line

Secondary washing line
Summer’s just around the corner and the weather is already veering between scorching and slightly damp – that precious time when hanging washing outside leaves you on a constant emotional knife-edge.

Should you dash outside and save your clothes from those ominous grey clouds, or risk leaving them out for that gloriously small chance of getting them all dry on one go?

Why not double the fun by hanging even more washing out on your telephone line? It’s all the fun of the casino with the added bonus of clean bed-sheets.

High difficulty badminton net
It’s a game of energy and deft flicks of the wrist, but have you really even challenged yourself if you haven’t played badminton over a net as high as the roof of your house?

Granted this is very much dependent on whether your telephone line stretches across a busy road. No one wants their badminton match interrupted by an HGV.

External display for your children’s artwork
Anyone with small children cannot help but be bewildered by the level of artwork they bring home on a daily basis. The front of the fridge can only hold so much and the thought of throwing it away is equivalent to burning it in front of them.

Problem solved! Show off your pride and joy’s creations to the whole neighbourhood. Who’s the best parent? I think we know.

Tight-rope for your pets
Sure, there are a lot of unanswered questions for this one. Like how do you get your Labrador onto the telephone line in the first place? How much training will it need before it can travel across, and how do you get it down afterwards?

On second thoughts, this is probably a terrible idea.

Extra-dangerous zip line
Yeah, this could end in tears too. Mea culpa. This one should have never left the brainstorm.

If you’ve got any better ideas we’d love to hear them. Or if you want to taste the joys of internet without line rental for yourself, why not see if you’re eligible today.

Blackburn takes first steps towards gigabit internet

Lancashire broadband network IX Wireless has begun the roll-out of Blackburn’s new high speed superfast internet, with the north west of the town first to benefit from the new infrastructure.

Fibre speed broadband network – phase 1

Phase 1 of the roll-out will cover approximately 1.6 square miles between the A6119 in the north and the A677 in the west, down to the A674 from Wilton Park to Barton Street and the B6232 in the centre of town.

Workmen began installing the network on Revidge Road, with some houses and businesses in the area able to connect immediately. In total, more than 2,000 premises are set to benefit from Phase 1 of the new wireless broadband by June 2019.

IX Wireless plans to complete the majority of work within the next five months, with its partner 6G Internet responsible for delivering internet services to residents and businesses.

Blackburn set to be one of the UK’s first “gigabit-capable” town

The work is part of plans to make Blackburn one of the UK’s first ‘gigabit-capable’ towns, meaning residents will soon be able to access internet speeds of more than 1,000 mbps as standard, increasing to 6,000 mbps by 2025.

Fixed wireless fibre speed network installed without lengthy delays

The installation of the IX Wireless network marks the first time high speed superfast speeds will be available to a town without the months of roadworks and disruption associated with laying fibre-optic cable in the ground.

Instead, users will simply be able to install a small receiver on their building which will pick up the broadband signal via radio wave, broadcast at the speed of light by IX Wireless’s transmitters.

Neil Knighton, communications manager for IX Wireless, said: “This is an exciting first step for both IX Wireless and Blackburn in creating the UK’s first truly gigabit-capable town. We are continuing to work closely with local communities to ensure minimal disruption. If any residents have concerns or questions about work on their street, they can call our helpline on 01254 405 000.”

Digital inclusion in the spotlight

As more and more services move online, digital inclusion is a problem that is likely to become more pronounced for a significant section of the UK population. That’s because while the majority of Britain takes the internet for granted, there are still 11 million people lacking basic online skills.

According to OfCom

If you are elderly, a low-earner, unemployed or live in social housing, you are less likely to be able to access the internet from your home or have the digital skills to take advantage of being online.

ITV’s Tonight programme Visits project in conjunction with Leeds Council

Thankfully, this issue has been given oxygen by ITV’s Tonight programme, who visited a project that we have been involved in with Leeds City Council to combat digital exclusion by connecting two of the city’s tower blocks to free broadband.

The partnership is part of the council’s 100% Digital Leeds programme aimed at giving every resident the access and skills to make the most out of the internet.

Highspeed broadband delivered to a social housing project

Leeds City Council estimates 38% of its 57,000 social housing residences don’t have permanent access to the internet. As part of the 14 month trial, we connected 160 social housing residences to free wireless broadband. It is streamed to the Grayson Crest and Clyde Grange tower blocks via radio antenna and offers 5 Mbps broadband residents to log on whenever they want.

Feedback from residents connected to broadband as part of the project

It resulted in some absolutely brilliant feedback.

Grayson Crest resident Oliver had been searching for a job for three years without an internet connection. Four days after he was connected to 6G internet, he secured a job he found on Gumtree as a warehouse forklift driver.

He told us: “It’s the difference between being on £46 a week benefit and earning a good wage. £46 just goes in a day – I couldn’t do anything with my kids. Now I can take them swimming or to the seaside. I’ve started saving money for a better car and I can meet my friends without worrying about money.

“Without an internet connection, I was searching for a job by buying newspapers or going to the library. After three years it gets disheartening – you just give up. Phone credit wasn’t cheap – if you want unlimited internet you’re talking £30 a month, so it was even difficult being able to talk to friends on social media. Now I can use my laptop at home. It’s made a big difference.”

Our partner at Leeds City Council, tenant engagement manager Ian Montgomery, said: “We know people suffer from a lower quality of life as a result of being unable to access the social, educational, financial, recreational and health benefits of being online.

“By connecting these flats to the internet and supporting people to learn how to use the technology, we are helping residents to find improved deals and save money, apply for jobs, manage finances and maintain contact with family and friends. It also helps the council to be more efficient, as residents are able to access online services to claim benefits, report issues and make payments.”
Ian Montgomery – Tenant Engagement Manager – Leeds City Council

We are very proud of our work to connect more people to a better quality of life through free broadband. If you’re part of a local authority and interested in partnering with us, you can make an enquiry here.