The Director of Resources submitted a report seeking approval for a business case to enter into a non-exclusive Wayleave Agreement between the Council and Hyperoptic (a specialist Fibre Optic installer to high rise dwellings) to install Fibre To The Premise (FTTP) initially to the Council’s own high rise housing stock (subject to survey), but with the potential for further expansion to cover up to 75% of the geographic area of the Borough subject to further Hyperoptic investment and surveys.  The report also sought approval to sign a Portfolio Wayleave Agreement negotiated between the Council and Hyperoptic.

The report explained that the Council had financed improvements for Basic Broadband Delivery through the Superfast Berkshire Broadband Project, working with BT Openreach, which was expected to conclude by the end of 2019.  However, the next major improvement was to full fibre, with Reading currently around the national average with only 6% of residents and businesses having access to the higher speeds offered by full FTTP installations.

The report set out a proposed agreement with Hyperoptic to install FTTP to the Council’s high-rise housing stock, with no obligation for tenants to take up any services. The non-exclusive deal allowed the Council to still move forward with its own FTTP proposal should it be able to find funding, or to allow other suppliers to compete for business.  The installation work would be fully funded by Hyperoptic without further Council funding required.  Hyperoptic would also provide at their cost full-fibre and standard indoor Wi-Fi to up to three community centres of the Council’s choice, subject to surveys and deployment.

From analysis of localities of the Council’s social housing, Hyperoptic had calculated this would give a base infrastructure that could be built upon to potentially reach up to 75% of the Council’s geographical area enabling full fibre services to be accessible to further residents and businesses, subject to further investment and surveys by Hyperoptic.

Resolved –

(1)     That the business case for the Council to enter into a Wayleave Agreement with Hyperoptic to install “Fibre To The Premise” digital infrastructure capability to the Council’s own high-rise housing stock (recognising the potential for further expansion subject to Hyperoptic investment and surveys) be approved;

(2)     That the Council sign a Wayleave Agreement with Hyperoptic on a non-exclusive basis to install “Fibre To The Premise” to the Council’s own high-rise housing stock.