A provider of ultrafast broadband services has begun building out a new fibre optic network in Bradley Stoke that offers connection speeds up to 18 times faster than can typically be achieved over traditional copper telephone cables.
South West based Truespeed began work in the town earlier this year, installing network cabinets at locations in the Woodlands Lane and Stean Bridge Road areas.
The company says it in investing £14 million to bring its full fibre network within reach of 16,000 properties across Bradley Stoke, Patchway, Stoke Gifford and Little Stoke.
The first Truespeed customers have recently gone live in parts of north Bradley Stoke, but the full build-out across the target areas is expected to take until summer 2023.
‘Full fibre’ broadband offering ultrafast speeds has been available to some homes in Bradley Stoke since 2022 through service providers that use the BT Openreach infrastructure – these include BT, EE, Plusnet, TalkTalk and Sky.
Truespeed, in contrast, is installing its own fibre optic cables which it claims allows it to offer a superior service. For example, its packages offer guaranteed download and upload speeds that are the same in each direction.
The company is something of a minnow in national terms, with its network passing just 60,000 properties, from which it has attracted 13,000 customers. Spreading out from its origins in the Chew Valley, the Truespeed network now reaches parts of Glastonbury, Street, Shepton Mallet, Wells, Portishead, Clevedon, Keynsham, Saltford, Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Peasedown and Nailsea.
Truespeed has benefitted from two tranches of investment from pension firm Aviva Investors – £75 million in 2017 and a further £100 million in 2022. It has a target of passing 500,000 homes by the end of 2025.
James Lowther, Truespeed CEO, commented:
“We are so proud of how far we have come in the last few years to help level the digital playing field in the South West. We are delighted to be investing in South Gloucestershire and to be connecting local homeowners to the reliable, guaranteed speed, ultrafast broadband service they deserve.”
“The need for broadband isn’t just about using your home computer anymore, connection is intrinsic to the smooth running of our day-to-day lives from a remotely operated thermostat, security camera, or smart meter to our TVs, mobile phones, tablets, and games consoles.”
The move into a competitive urban market like Bradley Stoke, where ultrafast broadband is already available from several full fibre service providers (not to mention Virgin Media’s hybrid fibre/coax offering) marks a change in direction for Truespeed, which has until now focused on rural and semi-rural areas which had been neglected by its larger rivals. However, a spokesperson for the firm said the quality and speed of service offered by competitor networks is often perceived as “subpar” by their customers, with many “paying for speeds they don’t receive” and “suffering drop outs at peak times”. The guaranteed, symmetrical speeds offered by Truespeed coupled with “vastly improved customer service” provided by a local team is seen as being “a big driver” in winning over customers.
Work in progress
Truespeed is able to take advantage of legislation which forces BT Openreach to make its passive infrastructure (ducts and poles) available to rival companies. Within Bradley Stoke it is anticipated that much of the Truespeed cable will be laid through BT Openreach ducts. However, in locations where the ducts have insufficient capacity or are blocked, the new operator will need to dig trenches to install its own ducts.
In recent days, contractors employed by the firm have been working near the Braydon Avenue mini-roundabout on Brook Way, where three-way temporary traffic lights were in operation for a number of days. In this area, trenches have been dug along footpaths at the side of the roads.
The one.network website indicates that Truespeed has works planned in the following roads in Bradley Stoke over the next two weeks (up to 22nd March 2023): Apseleys Mead, The Bluebells, Braydon Avenue, Brook Way, Chessel Close, Courtlands, Dewfalls Drive, Great Meadow Road, Lapwing Close, Mallard Close, Pursey Drive, Saxon Way, Wheatfield Drive, Winsbury Way and Woodlands Lane.
Truespeed says it will be working closely with local councils and the community to keep residents updated with any potential roadworks and disruption caused as engineering teams connect streets to their full fibre services.
Community engagement
Truespeed is also calling on residents and community groups to get in touch with suggestions of how the company can support the area. The provider says it is committed to supporting all the areas it serves – from connecting local schools and community hubs for free to sponsoring local clubs and groups. It will also consider sponsoring local events such as community fairs.
Truespeed CEO James Lowther added:
“While there will be some initial disruption as we connect individual streets, we are committed to being part of the local community and achieving much greater long-term benefits for the area. To date we have connected over 150 schools and community centres across the South West, and supported many more clubs, societies and charities. We are now actively looking for opportunities to support organisations in South Gloucestershire to demonstrate our commitment.”
Truespeed packages
Truespeed offers full fibre broadband packages with connection speeds ranging from 150Mbps to 900Mbps, in each case “guaranteeing” the headline speed, rather than some lower figure (as is common with rival providers).
At the time of writing, the cheapest package on offer is ‘Truespeed 150’, offering download and upload speeds of 150Mbps, at the ‘special’ price of £25 per month on a 12-month contract (reduced from £40 per month).
A free landline telephone option is included in all Truespeed packages. Call charges apply (inclusive call time packages are available). There are one-off charges for the supply of a telephone adaptor and for transferring an existing landline number.
The company has a ‘no in-contract price rise’ policy and has promised not to increase its prices in 2023. It also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. Terms and conditions apply.
For more information or to register your interest in receiving Truespeed full fibre broadband, visit www.truespeed.com or call the customer service team on 0125 300370.
See also: Truespeed support and frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Other options
Do you actually need ultrafast broadband? What packages are available from other providers and how do they compare on price? Do you need access to premium TV channels (Pay TV)? Do you have devices that rely on the analogue telephone system which may not be compatible with a full fibre connection? Could you be hit by in-contract ‘inflation plus’ price hikes?
For an overview of the options available for receiving full fibre / ultrafast broadband in Bradley Stoke, visit the Journal’s Full Fibre Broadband information page.
