BROADBAND provider CityFibre admitted they’ve ‘paused’ the installation of their high-speed broadband services on one Barnsley street a stone’s throw from the town centre after work to fit new infrastructure began four years ago.
CityFibre began the work to install full fibre broadband which sees optic cables connect directly to properties rather than a street cabinet on Keresforth Hall Road back in 2020.
The work was meant to improve services to all residents on the street, however four years after it began residents have been left in the dark with cables placed but abandoned, not properly connected or providing broadband services.
Nigel Hoar, who lives on the street, told the Chronicle: “We have been left in broadband limbo by CityFibre, who installed the infrastructure over four years ago but failed to connect it to their network.
“When work started we were told it shouldn’t be long, but now they’re saying that installation isn’t planned.
“We’re less than a mile from the centre of Barnsley to think we’re so close to town but we can’t get this installed properly is ridiculous.”
As Nigel works in IT, he has been helping out his neighbours and advised them on satellites that can be installed to provide internet connection.
Though this alternative approach doesn’t provide the high-speed connectivity that CityFibre’s new installation promised.
The provider has been working to improve services across Barnsley for years now, as they worked on updating the borough’s digital infrastructure, which included bringing super-fast broadband and 5G networks to homes and businesses to a variety of council wards.
They have also secured nine regional Project Gigabit contracts, as part of a government plan to supply fast, reliable connections to remote communities the UK government has invested £782m into the project, with CityFibre providing an investment of £391m.
A CityFibre spokesperson said: “Given the scale of our nationwide fibre deployment programme, we continuously review the prioritisation of our rollout resources.
“As part of this review, we’ve paused our deployment in a small number of locations.
“This has understandably frustrated some residents looking forward to faster and more reliable broadband services.
“Fortunately, thousands of Barnsley residents can already access our network.
“To those currently unable to connect, we thank you for your interest and your patience, and we hope to provide more information in due course.”
MP Stephanie Peacock, who represents Barnsley South, said she has contacted CityFibre having received residents’ concerns.
“I know that residents are concerned that CityFibre will be pausing work in Kingstone and I completely appreciate why this is worrying for local people.
“I have written to CityFibre on this and will continue to liaise with them on this issue.”
