Summers Quay first residential scheme to connect to Tameside’s ‘dark fibre’ network

Summers Quay in Tameside is one of the first residential schemes in the country to benefit from full fibre connectivity as part of a new partnership between digital service providers Simply IP, Tameside Council and housing provider Jigsaw Homes Group.

Around 11km of fibre cable has been installed at Summers Quay, Jigsaw Group’s first private rent development in Stalybridge as part of Tameside’s new ‘dark fibre’ network.

Each of the 67 one- and two-bed apartments at the scheme will receive end-to-end full fibre connectivity through a free gigabit wireless dual-band router which will be ready to use upon move in.

There will be equal download and upload speeds of up to 50MB for £15 per month giving tenants a faster network for streaming movies and watching video content.

The Simply IP service provides unlimited usage, no traffic management and no contract.

Upgrades will also be available and tenants will have free access to a dedicated Summers Quay microsite to report repairs to New Charter Homes.

A microwave radio antenna on the roof of the building at Armentieres Square will further support the resilience of the network.

Steven McCrory, network director at Simply IP, said: “Summers Quay will be the latest Simply IP residential installation where each apartment will receive business grade service and connectivity and our work delivering full fibre residential internet services in Tameside has been ground-breaking for Greater Manchester.”

Summers Quay, due for completion this July, is described as an alternative to urban living within a sub-urban setting. More than one third of apartments have already been reserved off-plan.