Initially the scheme will be run in four locations Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester/Salford. The market test phase will run from 5th August 2013 to the end of September 2013. Subject to the outcome of the market tests, the scheme could then be expanded to other cities, 22 in total, which are part of the Super-Connected Cities Programme.
The BDUK Connection Voucher Scheme provides financial support to end-users for the purchase of high speed/high grade connectivity solutions. The scheme will allow businesses and 3rd sector organisations to approach registered suppliers directly – with the support of BDUK connection voucher funding – enabling them to create a step-change in their connectivity.
For the market test phase support will be available for up to a maximum of £3,000 (excl. VAT) for individual premises. The grant will only cover the initial installation cost of the connection. No on-going revenue charges will be included. The minimum grant amount available is £250.
Prospective applicants will apply to the relevant city where their eligibility will be assessed. Successful applicants will then be free to approach any registered supplier for their respective city. Details of registered suppliers will be available on the city’s website and from BDUK.
The scheme is designed to be technology neutral. Suppliers can deliver either wired or wireless solutions, or a combination of both wired and wireless. The key criteria is that the solution must deliver a step change in the SME’s connectivity – usually to over 30Mbits/s but also taking into account other business requirements such as reliability and/or upload speed.
‘We are pleased to have become an approved supplier to the Broadband Delivery UK vouchers scheme market test. Fibre is the future and feedback from our customers confirms that fibre optic broadband performance transforms their Internet experience, not just by making their service faster, but by enabling them to try new applications that might previously have been out of reach,’ said Gary Hough, Regulatory Manager.
‘We believe that we have the strongest portfolio of Fibre Optic Broadband services in the UK, having worked with BT since the initial Fibre Optic Broadband trials,’ added Gary.
Zen Internet offers a broad portfolio of award winning connectivity solutions to meet the requirements of the scheme, covering standard broadband to bespoke business services. Dependent upon location, Zen can provide both hybrid and full (FTTC and FTTP) Fibre Optic Broadband services, with the former offering 80Mbps downstream and up to 20Mbps upstream and the latter delivering up to 330Mbps downstream and 30Mbps up.