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Hertfordshire County Council

We are working with the Hertfordshire Growth Board to ensure Hertfordshire builds and maintains its strong position with telecoms infrastructure. We're also aiming to fix the digital divide through the promotion and coordination of digital inclusion initiatives. 

 

 

Broadband connectivity

Project Gigabit

We are actively supporting the government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit programme to provide hard-to-reach communities with access to gigabit-capable broadband.

We supported the government's assessment of current and planned broadband infrastructure in Hertfordshire, providing our own local expertise of suppliers in the county. This helped us identify all eligible premises that can’t get gigabit speeds (1000mbps) and aren’t likely to be covered by commercial plans.

This has led to multiple procurements to be launched across the UK, including 3 that cover areas within Hertfordshire. Each contract will target both residential and business premises in mainly harder-to-reach / more rural areas.

  • Lot 5 – awarded to City Fibre and predominantly covering Cambridgeshire, although around 2,000 premises to the north-east of Hertfordshire will be included. Work should begin around summer 2025. Lot 5 current planned coverage map
  • Lot 26 – awarded to City Fibre and a joint contract with Buckinghamshire and East Berkshire. This contract will include around 5,000 west Hertfordshire addresses. Work should begin around summer 2025. Lot 26 current planned coverage map
  • Lot 26C – awarded to Openreach and is a cross regional contract covering around 300,000 premises across Great Britain. Hertfordshire will be included as part of this contract and will benefit from approximately 6,500 premises being covered. Lot 26C current planned coverage map

Once City Fibre has surveyed and planned their coverage, their postcode checker will show where they plan to deliver.

DfE Gigabit Programme - The DfE school’s gigabit programme is aiming to deliver lightning-fast gigabit broadband to predominantly rural schools across the UK. The target is approximately 30 schools in Hertfordshire to benefit by the end of 2025.

All timescales and information are indicative and subject to change. Timescales can change due to technical difficulties which can arise in a programme of this scale and complexity. Technical issues can include surveying, planning, design and delivery of the network. 

 

Can you get a fibre connection?

Find out if you can already order a fibre connection by using broadband comparison service, cable.co.uk.

It’s also worth checking these suppliers, which all deliver broadband in Hertfordshire:

 

If you are building or supplying broadband in Hertfordshire and would like to be included on this page, email hertsbroadband@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

 

Mobile and 5G

Mobile and broadband coverage checker

Enter a postcode to check:

  • how good indoor / outdoor mobile services from all major operators
  • outdoor availability of 5G services
  • broadband availability and speeds for any UK address

Broadband and mobile coverage checker (Ofcom)

 

5G is beginning to be rolled out across Hertfordshire and is already available in many areas. 

Most modern mobile devices are 5G enabled but, for residents and businesses to benefit from these technological advances, providers may need to install some new equipment and masts across the county. New infrastructure isn't always popular, but there are major benefits:

  • faster download speeds – the most obvious benefit of 5G is faster speeds on the go. 5G is potentially up to 100 times faster than 4G. This means quicker and higher amounts of data transfer and smoother streaming.
  • better back-up connectivity – ideal for those working without a stable or fast enough broadband connection, or multiscreen households.
  • supports new technologies – 5G will be a key enabler for emerging technologies such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR). Firefighters could one day use AR glasses to deal with smoke filled / zero visibility incidents. Drones could collect real time data avoiding collection, download and processing times, as well as human error.
  • better connectivity in crowded areas – 5G networks can support a much larger number of devices and connections simultaneously without a significant drop in performance. For example, you can stand in a crowded place like a festival and still send and receive information almost instantly.
  • Internet of Things – 5G will play an important role in the increasing range of things that connect to the internet, including automated vehicles, air quality monitoring and traffic management.
  • improved reliability – with a 5G network being readily available and very unlikely to experience service drop out or lag, it could be relied on for robotic surgeries and industrial automation.
  • economic growth – 5G is expected to drive economic growth by enabling new industries, creating jobs and encouraging innovation. This will allow more industries to move out of London and other big cities and into the home counties.

There will be many other benefits and these will continue to evolve as the technology matures and expands. For more information, visit Mobile UK #5GCheckTheFacts.

  

Digital inclusion

Digital inclusion is about making sure everyone has access to and can benefit from the opportunities and services that digital technologies offer. It's not only about providing internet access, but ensuring people have the skills, confidence and can afford to use digital tools for their personal, social and economic development.

Browse digital inclusion services across Hertfordshire

 

Cheaper broadband for lower income households

Lots of broadband providers offer discounted 'social tariff' deals, some as low as £15 per month. 

Social tariffs are discounted / cheaper broadband and mobile deals for people on Universal Credit and other benefits. These tariffs are delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price.

If you receive benefits, you could qualify for one of these discounted price plans. For more information on eligibility and current available cheaper tariffs, visit www.ofcom.org.uk/cheap-broadband.

 

New to computers or tablets?

Try our IT taster sessions in libraries across Hertfordshire.

Learn My Way – free learning and support to gain digital skills so you can stay safe and connected online.

Step2Skills also offer a range of digital skills courses to get started or to brush up your existing skills.

 

Digital switchover / public switched telephone network (PSTN)

Between now and 2027, the telecommunications industry is turning off all old analogue (copper) telephone lines across the UK. This means households and businesses will be upgraded to new landline services using digital technology. 

For most residents and businesses this change will be straightforward, many are already making the switch. Residents and businesses will be contacted directly by their Internet Service Provider (ISP) about their migration requirements and timescales and will also be able to answer any queries. For further information please visit Upgrading landlines to digital technology – what you need to know.

Recently the Government and Communication providers set out an agreement to protect vulnerable people when they are moved onto the Digital Service. For Further information please visit Public Switched Telephone Network Charter.

 

Any questions? Contact us at hertsbroadband@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

 

Connected Counties / Hertfordshire Broadband (2013–21)

Between 2013 and 2021, Hertfordshire delivered more than 50,000 superfast connections (24mbps and above) as part of a joint project with Buckinghamshire, the Hertfordshire LEP, Openreach and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). Over 98.5% of residents and businesses in the county were able to order a Superfast connection.

In early 2019, BT (Openreach) were successful in bidding for a £900,000 contract, with an aid intensity of 85%, to deliver an additional 400 superfast Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) connections across Hertfordshire. This included nearly 200 business premises, under the Rural Development Programme for England as part of a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs funded rollout.

Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

 

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