Big delays in Gigaclear rollout in Fastershire area

I've been waiting for better broadband for years - I am to be included in Fastershire's FTTP rollout by Gigaclear. The dates for my area published by Gigaclear have changed several times, and have now been moved back a further 9 months to Q4 2019 - along with many other areas in Fastershire.
I spoke to Gigaclear today, and they confirmed that the dates on the website are the current target dates, which will give me better broadband by end of Q3 2020 (i.e. 2 years from now, if there are no more delays). That's further away than it was when they were awarded the contract.
Fastershire still have Q3 2018 as the start date - unfortunately they no longer reply to any of my questions, and they don't provide progress updates (just a press release each time they win an award!).
The worst part of all this is that as I am "in plan", no other help of any kind is available to bring better broadband to the fragmented areas like mine that Fastershire's FTTC rollout created.
With delays in other areas it seems Gigaclear's rollout is not progressing as planned, and I can't see it getting any better. I expect the whole BDUK thing to collapse before I get better broadband - with 97% of the country with superfast broadband, and increasing amounts of commercial FTTP rollout in cities I expect the government to announce "job done" and do away with BDUK to save cash.
Sorry everyone, just a bit of a rant! Aargh!

Edited by sheephouse (Mon 15-Oct-18 12:24:35)

When they start work in your area I would expect there to be a project manager who should know what progress is likely to be made. You need to make contact with him if the route of the cables matters to you.

The route of the cables isn't a problem at all. The fact that there are no Gigaclear cables at all within 15 miles or so of my area is the problem. There won't be any work in my area (or a project manager to oversee it) until almost all the other areas between Gloucester and Chepstow have been built, as Gigaclear are building out from existing active areas (i.e. Gloucester for Lot 3c). There are 52 areas within Fastershire lot 3c, and they have started the build on just 4 of those so far. Their current target is to complete Lot 3c by Q3 2022 (i.e. 4 years away!).
I don't even expect the USO to help people in this area, as we will be "in plan" for Gigaclear FTTP.

Edited by sheephouse (Mon 15-Oct-18 19:28:34)

I would say Gigaclear took too much on, here in Northamptonshire where they won the Stage 3 rollout they also seem to be way behind from what I can see.

One of the effects of the Fibre Bubble is the shortage of labour as all the players chase the same shovels.

In reply to a post by partial:

One of the effects of the Fibre Bubble is the shortage of labour as all the players chase the same shovels.

+1

Actually, when I said there was no Gigaclear fibre within 15 miles, it seems I was being rater too optimistic. Using the TBB map, it seems the closest Gigaclear fibre is over 22 miles away.
If the network spreads out from Gloucester at the same speed as it has done in the Cotswolds, then I estimate it will take 6 years to reach my area (rather than the planned 2 years). So for Gigaclear to meet its new (delayed) targets in Fastershire Lot3c there needs to be a significant step change in the rate of progress. I can't see that happening

Curious as to why you use the term "spreads out from Gloucester".
I am unaware of Gigaclear coverage here in the City, however my local city centre cabinet has finally been upgraded to FTTC by Openreach after an intensive 4 years of lobbying.
It certainly looks as many more cabinets are slated for upgrade using Fastershire funding but I'm unaware of any plans for FTTP other than for a few new builds.

I say spread out from Gloucester as they are currently building adjacent to the western side of Gloucester. Their Cotswold build has reached the south and east edges of Gloucester, and they have also built around the northern edge. I know they have no presence inside Gloucester itself. If you look at the TBB coverage map and select the Gigaclear overlay you can see where they are.
If you look at the Gigaclear plans they only start a build in an area when an adjacent area has been built - it makes sense as they have somewhere not too far away to connect the backhaul to, but it results in a very very long wait for the areas that are least served by any other broadband because they are more rural. Annoyingly even the wireless ISPs such as Voneous that claim to offer a connection until Gigaclear arrive can only provide a service in areas that Gigaclear have already built.