Bournemouth residents get extra fibre

Self-service portal allows customers to choose ISPs and content

Bournemouth residents could choose their ISP and content using a self-service portal

Bournemouth residents could become the first in the UK to be able to choose which ISP and content providers they want through a self-service portal.

I3 Group company Fibrecity has rolled out the optical fibre infrastructure, which gives Bournemouth residents internet access at up to 100Mbit/s, claimed to be the fastest in the UK.

The first homes were connected to Fibrecity's portal today, allowing residents to select ISPs and content providers who have signed up to sell services through the portal.

Consumers connected to the Fibrecity network through a set-top box and router will see a menu of services available in their area from a variety of providers. Customers simply click on the provider's icon to buy a service or package directly from that provider’s existing online system.

"Our vision is to offer people living in Fibrecities real choice without being restricted to one provider," said Elfed Thomas, I3 Group’s chief executive.

Whether incumbent telco BT, and ISPs like Carphone Warehouse, Orange, Sky, and O2 would particpate is a moot point, since they would like to sign customers up to their own multi-play packages that combine fixed and mobile phone services, broadband internet access, and TV channels.

Fibrecity Bournemouth expects to complete in 2011.