Manx Telecom to Fund Connection Works, Bringing Thousands More Island Homes onto Fibre

Manx Telecom has announced it will fund the specialist groundwork some Island properties need to connect to the fibre network, at no extra cost to the customer. The funding is available with a 36-month Manx Telecom fibre contract, with monthly prices matched to the standard 24-month rate and covers works up to 20 metres from the property boundary, subject to survey.

When Manx Telecom began its island-wide fibre rollout, property surveys revealed that blocked underground ducts and buried copper cabling, which prevent a standard fibre connection, were more widespread than anticipated. Where this happens, connecting a home requires additional civil engineering: digging, clearing or laying new ducting between the street and the property.

This groundwork is specialist civil engineering, carried out by expert third-party contractors rather than Manx Telecom’s own engineers. It sits outside the company’s core network service and carries an additional cost. From Monday 22 June, Manx Telecom will cover that cost for its customers.

The move is part of Manx Telecom’s commitment to connect as many people as possible to the fibre network, and where there is a barrier in the way, to remove it. 

Gary Lamb, Chief Executive Officer at Manx Telecom, said: “Our priority is simple: we want as many Islanders as possible to enjoy the benefits of fibre broadband. For some homes, the route for fibre isn’t straightforward, and we don’t think that should stand in anyone’s way. By funding this work, we’re removing a practical barrier between thousands of Island homes and a full-fibre future.” 

How the funding works

For customers whose properties have a blocked underground duct or buried copper cabling, meaning the standard route for fibre cabling requires additional groundwork, the funding covers the cost of that work. Key details:

• Covers ducting works up to 20 metres from the network connection point at the property boundary, subject to survey
• Applies to both the Fibre Track drop tube solution and bespoke civil engineering works where Fibre Track is not suitable
• Available with a 36-month Manx Telecom fibre contract, with monthly prices matched to existing 24-month pricing, so customers pay no more per month
• Available across the full fibre range (Fibre 30, 100, 200, 500 and 1000) plus all Business Fibre options
• One funded installation per customer per 36-month period
• Property owner or landlord permission is required before installation can proceed

Customers who are unsure whether their property is affected by a blocked duct, or who would like to find out more, can contact Manx Telecom on 626626 or visit manxtelecom.com/fibretrack. A free survey will confirm eligibility and identify the right solution for each property. 

Why fibre

A fixed fibre line into the home is the most reliable way to bring broadband into a property. Customers making the move to fibre can expect:

• Speeds of up to 1Gbps: fast, consistent broadband for every device in the home, however many people are online at once and however far the property sits from the local exchange
• Upload speeds of up to 200Mbps: ideal for video calling, remote working, cloud backups and sharing large files
• Ultra-low latency: near-instant response times for video calls, gaming, online learning and everyday browsing
• Reliability in all conditions: fibre optic cables are unaffected by electrical interference or adverse weather, delivering a stable connection year-round
• Future-ready capacity: a network built to support the Island’s growing demand for decades ahead
• Built, managed and supported on-Island, with a customer service team based in the Isle of Man and engineers who live here