Expanding a growing city-wide network

Across Colchester, Amphora Connect, part of Amphora Group and one of Colchester City Council’s commercial companies, has already laid more than 90,000km of fibre in urban areas, with ultrafast services provided over its retail and wholesale networks now serving over 3,000 properties. The network has capacity to reach almost 30,000 homes and businesses in Colchester and nearby villages as the rollout continues.

First customers connected on Mersea Island

Working closely with its network build partner and co-investor, Birch Technical Services (BTS), which is also based in Mersea, Amphora Connect has completed an 18km direct fibre link between Colchester city centre and West Mersea. Overcoming the challenges of connecting rural communities and crossing The Strood, the project has brought high-capacity fibre infrastructure directly to the island. BTS has also delivered a brand-new local network, with the first customers now connected. We were delighted that the first business to sign up was Mersea Homes, one of the island’s most prominent businesses.

A faster, more reliable digital future

Full-fibre networks use 100% fibre optic cables to transmit data at the speed of light, offering a connection dramatically faster and more reliable than older copper lines. Amphora Connect’s network provides download and upload speeds of up to 10Gbps, speeds that were unimaginable even a few years ago. Residents and businesses in West Mersea are now able to choose affordable, reliable full-fibre broadband from Amphora Connect.

Cllr Venessa Moffat, Interim Chair of Amphora said: “Thriving cities like Colchester depend on strong digital infrastructure to unlock growth, opportunity and prosperity. Reliable connectivity is essential for residents, businesses and visitors alike, supporting everything from remote working and online services to education, healthcare and leisure. By investing in our Amphora Connect full fibre network, we are futureproofing Colchester’s infrastructure, improving resilience, attracting investment, and helping local businesses grow. Most importantly, we’re ensuring our communities can access the fast, reliable connectivity they need both today and for generations to come.”

Residents and businesses interested in upgrading to full fibre can find out more here.