The Connected Counties superfast broadband programme has now closed.
For information about broadband in Buckinghamshire, visit Buckinghamshire County Council's broadband programme.
In Hertfordshire, as part of the programme we worked with Hertfordshire LEP, Openreach and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to roll out more than 50,000 superfast connections in Hertfordshire since 2013. That means nearly 98.5% of residents and businesses in the county were able to order a Superfast connection.
Although this programme is now complete, we are continuing to engage with the industry and central government to extend coverage even further.
We're still working to provide nearly 400 additional gigabit capable premises in East Hertfordshire as part of a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs funded rollout.
Can you get a fibre connection?
Find out if you can already order a fibre connection by using one of these online checkers:
- Cable.co.uk
- Sam Knows - searches all services' availability but you can't order via this website, you need to go direct to a supplier
- Openreach - covers all services using their line (for example BT, Sky, EE)
- BT Broadband - only shows BT Broadband's service availability
- Virgin Media - only shows Virgin Media's service availability
- Gigaclear - only shows BT Broadband's service availability.
Gigabit-capable broadband means any technology that can deliver 1 gigabit per second. In context, that's fast enough to download an HD film in under 1 minute.
Other options for improving connection speeds in Hertfordshire
There are a still number of options for improving your connection speed if you are a resident in Hertfordshire:
Government Gigabit broadband voucher schemes
This rural gigabit voucher scheme continues to help rural premises to improve their connectivity.
Small businesses and local communities can put the vouchers towards the installation cost of a gigabit-capable connection. Rural businesses can claim up to £3,500 against the cost of connection, either individually or as part of a group project. Residents can receive a voucher worth £1,500 as part of a group project.
These schemes may still require further funding from the local community, but this would be made clear by the supplier before any contract was agreed.
The right to request a decent broadband service - The Universal Service Obligation
If you're unable to get a download speed of 10mbps and an upload speed of 1mbps then you now have the right to request an upgraded connection, with a subsidy of up to £3,400 available for eligible premises.
The scheme is being run by BT in Hertfordshire and is being overseen by Ofcom.
Your home or business could be eligible if it:
- has no access to existing decent broadband; and
- will not be covered by a public broadband scheme offered by the UK and devolved governments in the next 12 months.
Get the most out of your existing broadband connection
Wi-Fi can be easily disrupted by environmental factors such as home wiring, walls and other electrical devices in the home (including Sky boxes and consoles). You may be able to boost current speeds by making a few simple changes or speaking to your Internet Service Provider.
Even if you can't already receive superfast broadband, reviewing the way your equipment is set up could still be hugely beneficial in getting the most out of your existing service, including moving your router or plugging some devices directly into your router.
We always recommend speaking to your current Internet Service Provider before making any major changes.
Any questions? Contact us at hertsbroadband@hertfordshire.gov.uk.