Children at the Foxwood Community Centre were playing in the sunshine today at the opening of their new outdoor play area thanks to York’s Ultra Fibre Optic (UFO) network which is being rolled out across the city by TalkTalk.
Local residents and volunteers have been involved in creating a garden and outdoor space at the centre and needed funding to resurface the play area with special ‘Wetpour’ tarmac. Without financial support these projects struggle to go ahead or can take years to complete.
The funds for this project were provided as part of a community drive by TalkTalk during the build of its full fibre network expansion project, which will provide ultra-fast full fibre internet to 55,000 homes and businesses across York by 2020 and make it the UK’s first Ultra Fibre Optic city.
York’s UFO team started work in October last year to install the full fibre network all the way from the exchange to the streets in Dringhouses, Woodthorpe, Foxwood and Chapelfields as the start of the second phase of its full fibre rollout across York. Around 9,000 homes in these areas will be able to connect to the York’s UFO network in the coming months.
Westfield Ward Councillor Andrew Waller who was at the opening said: “We are really thrilled with the new playground and that we were able to get it done in time for Summer. Local residents and volunteers have been working really hard to create a lovely outdoor space for everyone and this was the final piece of the jigsaw. We would like to thank York’s UFO from TalkTalk for making this possible!”
Helen Fletcher, Marketing Manager for York’s UFO for TalkTalk said: “It’s wonderful to see the children playing outside and truly heartening to know that we’re able to support the local community with projects like this as we rollout our Ultra Fibre Optic network across the York”.
Costing no more than standard fibre at £25 per month*, York’s UFO, 1000 Mbps (1 gigabit) network, is 20 times faster, more stable and reliable than other ‘fibre’ products. The future of the internet connectivity globally, there is no difference in download and upload speeds even when everyone is online at the same time. Once connected, it is completely scalable and therefore futureproof.
Residents with a gigabit connection can download a two-hour HD film in seven seconds or 100 songs in three seconds- tasks that currently take more than 25 minutes and eight minutes in an average UK home.
Homes and businesses in Rawcliffe, Clifton, Huntington, New Earswick and parts of The Groves are already able to connect to York’s UFO. Research by the House of Commons Library, using information provided by Ofcom, revealed that York Outer constituency already has the fastest download speeds in the country at 128.9Mb/s, with York Central second fastest at 82.4Mb/s. This compares to a national average of 44.6Mb/s.**
A free gigabit Wi-Fi service is available in York railway station for residents to experience the capability of a full fibre network. To find out more or to register visit York’s Ultra Fibre Optic Information Centre at York Station, follow TalkTalkUFOYork on Facebook or go to talktalk.co.uk/ufo.
For further information, please contact: Rachel Goddard, Intandem Communications on 01904 637677 or 07774 486237