Doorstep visit from Openreach about Rural Gigabit Voucher scheme

richgkav

Hi,

Just had visit (couldn't speak to them as they turned up at lunchtime) and they left a leaflet. They are promoting the Rural Gigabit Voucher scheme and are encouraging people to register and claim the voucher on behalf of Openreach.

I checked the eligibility of our address for the scheme using the gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk website and it said we were not eligible for the scheme.

"This address is not eligible for a voucher. This address is already included in a government-funded contract to deliver improved broadband.  The voucher scheme only operates in areas that aren’t due to receive government funding to deliver improved broadband."

Checking further it looks like Openreach already have a contract to improve broadband in our area.

Does anyone know what Openreach are doing here? If you read the smallprint and you pledge a voucher to them you are effectively tied in to a contract for the broadband so I was wondering if this is just a way of them garuanteeing themselves some customers.

[Deleted User]

Doesn't sound like that is Openreach doing the door knocking to me. Openreach don't sell broadband to consumers directly so when you say you would be tied into a contract on the voucher, that doesn't sound right?

J_B

Very interesting -    There are only four addresses attached to our postcode, but   https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/#suppliers   only offers me two of these. Most odd.

We are not able to get FTTC and FTTP was quoted at around £13K

daveyjp

Just because it says Openreach doesn't mean it is.  They provide the infrastructure, but don't provide your service.  Can you upload the leaflet?

Cityfibre are the same.  They put in cables (and also use Openreach- old BT- telegraph poles to attach equipment and provide the link to houses), but the internet service is provided in my local area by Vodaphone.  

Chino

[Deleted User] said:

Doesn't sound like that is Openreach doing the door knocking to me. Openreach don't sell broadband to consumers directly so when you say you would be tied into a contract on the voucher, that doesn't sound right?

Nevertheless, Openreach is listed as a supplier to the Gigabit Voucher scheme:
https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/
https://www.openreach.com/fibre-broadband/community-fibre-partnerships

brewerdave

I've certainly had a series of direct Openreach emails re the rollout of FTTP in our village, altho' the later ones have included links to ISPs who can offer FTTP.