“We want fibre!” We need your input!

People and businesses want fibre

That was the overwhelming view of more than 250 people attending the breakfast meeting on Friday 15 January 2010 organised by NW Insider in partnership with Corridor Manchester, New East Manchester, MDDA, Geo and NCC Group.

Dave Carter, Head of MDDA, speaking to audience

The meeting was organised to generate debate about how we can get Next Generation Access (NGA) digital infrastructure across Manchester on the most affordable and accessible basis possible. Read the original news story on this page.

We now need your help!

We need to know what your needs and aspirations are. What would be the benefits of fibre to you and your business or organisation?

Fill in the registration form

We have already had a great deal of interest by people registering their interest in getting connected to the new Manchester fibre network by filling in the registration form and now we need more input from you!

The project is starting with the Corridor, not just Oxford Road, but Hulme, Ardwick and Knott Mill too, and there are wider aspirations to spread this out across Greater Manchester, with a second phase of development using as much of the Metrolink as possible as a further starting point.

So, as well as people in the Corridor area, we also want to know what you want from anywhere in Greater Manchester. Please fill in the registration form and let us know your views.

Please also tell us about how you think this project would help you. Are there, for example, new and innovative ideas for services and / or businesses that you think could come out of this? Let us know by completing the Comments box on the registration form.

Even better please cascade this to any networks you are involved in and ask them to respond, as well as sending it out to friends, family and anyone else you think would be interested. If you want further information or clarification then just let us know.

Use the #iwantfibre hashtag on Twitter

If you are on Twitter (MDDA is on Twitter) you can also use the hashtag #iwantfibre followed by your full postcode, like this…

Twitter new tweet form showing the iwantfibre hashtag

Please note that we’ll get more useful information from you via the registration form but every tweet helps. Thanks!

2 comments on “We want fibre!” We need your input!

Paul Michael Smith mentions:
January 18th, 2010 at 3:30 pm
Fibre would mean everything to me. I’m currently on one of the few WiMAX connections in Manchester because I can only get 512 via ADSL and there is no cable in my street.

Having a slow 1.5mb connection means I can’t reliably work from home when dealing with large files such as video content or assets for the work I do as a Front-end Web Developer.

It also means modern services such as BBC iPlayer, Boxee, Online radio or even just broadband reliant websites are unstable or unusable to me.

My girl friend and I can’t both use the internet at the same time unless doing very simple tasks like email.

Fibre would allow me to set-up streaming services, cut out about 30% of my commutes to the office or client offices and allow me to develop the services I can offer and use.

I live in Blackley, Manchester a known “not spot” for broadband, please bring Fibre here I know many many people that would be greatful.
MJ Ray comments:
January 19th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
Isn’t NGA meant to be about equality of access and justice for those areas which are currently restricted, such as Blackley? Why would giving Oxford Road another upgrade a good use of the Next Generation Fund money?