York-based ISP, UK Fibre Networks, has announced a new name and brand for the business – Fastr Broadband.
The company is continuing to roll out its full fibre gigabit broadband network to 8,000 homes and businesses in York city centre.
Bringing broadband speeds of up to 8,000Mbps over the next 12 months, the company has chosen the Norse word, Fastr, to reflect the speeds it will be delivering while drawing on the city’s Viking roots and reflecting its status as a York independent business.
Powered by UK Fibre Networks which launched in 2019, hundreds of homes and businesses in the city are already connected to the network. City centre takeaway, Mr Chippy, joined the network in 2020, increasing its internet speeds from 11Mbps to 150Mbps.
Owner of Mr Chippy, Andrew Pericleous said, “As a city, we are on the world stage and attract visitors every day from all over the region, the country and the world. Historically, however it has been the city’s internet connection that has limited many businesses like ours.
“Joining Fastr Broadband has been a breath of fresh air and means we were able to expand our business and bring in additional revenue streams from Deliveroo, which now accounts for over 40 per cent of our sales. Without a strong internet, we simply wouldn't be able to use their order system as well as keeping in store customers happy with speedy efficient service through our point-of-sale system, digital menu and even our credit card machines. Fastr has to be the way forward for York’s city centre businesses to operate smartly and efficiently in the digital age.”
The service is available in streets including: Blake Street, Bootham, Church Street, Claremont Terrace, Colliergate, Coney Street, Coppergate, Gillygate, Goodramgate, High Petergate, , Low Petergate, Lord Mayor’s Walk, Marygate, Stonegate, Swinegate and Parliament Street.
The build will be progressing to other streets and areas inside the city walls, which are due to be announced shortly.
The company is building the network at night and following the routes of existing cables along the outsides of each property to ensure minimal impact on the heritage and historic buildings in the city. This also avoids impacting local residents, businesses and visitors. Fastr Broadband may use existing Openreach ducts and poles with some underground work where necessary.
Managed by an experienced team, including director Pete Evans, who has more than 20 years’ experience in the telecoms industry, Fastr Broadband has plans to continue its roll-out in the city in the coming months.
Evans, said, “These are exciting times for digital connectivity in York and we are thrilled to be at the heart of it. We are committed to delivering businesses and residents the fastest broadband they’ve never had, with download speeds more than 452 times faster than those currently available within the city walls.
“Having spoken to many business owners and residents who are working and living in the city centre, we have heard their frustrations of the slow speeds and unreliable connection that is having a real impact on their daily lives, and they have simply been left behind for too long. We work closely with Digital York, Streetwork’s and Highways teams and so it’s with their approval that we are able to build considerately at their approval that we are able to build considerately at night, tidying up old cables up as we go and reusing existing boxes to connect the network, our aim is to work with residents, landlords and businesses to find the best solution for their property.
“We are really excited about the possibilities this will bring for residents and businesses in York and we encourage those living and working within the city walls to register their interest, so they are among the first to know about when connections are available.”
Roy Grant, head of ICT and digital services at City of York Council, said, “York has always led the way in terms of its digital connectivity landscape, however one of the missing pieces of the jigsaw has been within our city walls, where the mix of historic buildings and cobbled streets make it challenging to build strong networks.
“We very much welcome this private investment that expands the access to future proof connectivity and more choice of service providers within our city, connecting thousands of homes and businesses who are the lifeblood of the city’s economy, with a strong and reliable connection, without which York wouldn’t thrive within the digital world.”