Last Updated on September 24, 2023 by Tim FitzGerald
In late 2020 there was a big fanfare when toob announced it was to install gigabit internet connectivity in Camberley and Frimley.
Benefits of new technology internet services.
Who is toob?
Toob is a Portsmouth based ‘altnet’ company that is installing gigabit internet networks in Portsmouth, Eastleigh, Chandlers Ford and Southampton. Locally toob is expanding its network to Blackwater and beyond.
Toob’s infrastructure build
In Sep 2020, toob sought planning permission to erect a cabin at Camberley Cricket Club to house the necessary infrastructure for a fibre-optic gigabit network hub. The company already operate a gigabit internet service in Southampton, offering speeds of up to 900Mbps (both download and upload speed).
By Apr 2021 the cabin had been installed and design and implementation works were in progress. Ducts were being surveyed and cleared in several areas of Camberley. Toob planned to use BT/Openreach ducts, where it could, and to deliver to houses using Openreach’s poles where this was the means of delivery of telephone service. This work and new duct laying work continued slowly and neat green roadside cabinets started to appear. It seemed that there was only a small workforce deployed on this phase of the project.
By Feb 2022, some progress was being seen in Hillcrest Road. The route seemed to be along Crawley Ridge, Portsmouth Road, into Wellington Park. Work was in progress to connect the various telephone poles to the underground ducts. New sub-ducts were being installed, where necessary. Strange markings appeared on Openreach chambers. I suspect there may need to be a new duct laid in the lower parts of Hillcrest Road. There was a significant amount of new duct laid to the flats opposite Seymour Drive from Highbury Close. Work was also seen in neighbouring streets like Beaufront Road and Iberian Way.
In Feb 2022, toob’s website announced that it was taking orders for some parts of Camberley, other parts were ‘in build’ while our area remained ‘in design’.
I wondered how long it might be until we were in the ‘taking orders’ category. A few months I expect. But I am sure it will be worth it.
March 14 2022 – I saw CBTs being installed on poles in Church Hill. CBTs have been spotted on poles in Hillcrest Road as well. Also work is starting north of the A30
Toob has connected users already – Surrey Live March 4
Users of the new toob internet service are generally very pleased with their offering.
Their installation experience was good, performance is as described and others report no interruptions in service. The WiFi is much superior to VM’s WiFi offering and one user reports he has been able to dispense with all WiFi repeaters in a larger house, and their toob WiFi reaches into their garden.
In early April 2022 – Toob started to dig in Hillcrest Road
Then I saw some fibre appear – so it looks like they have installed fibre to the pole. Have they installed it all the way up the road yet?
Next, they will install the pole connector block at the top of the poles and then the fibre to the houses can be installed.
April 25, 2022 – I hear that toob is asking Wellington Park residents if they wish to have toob internet installed. Installation happens after a few days.
toob installation – May 2022
April 29, 2022 – received notification that I could now order toob. I completed the order and scheduled the installation. Hopefully, it will happen in a couple of weeks. Now I need to plan the internal stuff – where to locate the NTE, the router and associated switches, and sort out the power sockets.
May 5, 2022 – toob phoned me to delay the installation as they were not ready. The connector blocks have been installed at the top of the poles in the last few days. I don’t yet have a new date for installation. Wellington Park residents are having toob installed this week and have reported no issues. These houses have underground delivery. Facebook link (Private Group)
May 9, 2022 – toob arranged a new date for installation
May 16, 2022 – Installation Day – toob arrive on-site and start the installation. A cable was run from the top of the pole in the street to my house and then 10m across the front of the house (out of sight) to an entry box on the outside wall. Then through the wall to the ONT.
Within an hour after arriving they were demonstrating the toob service was running 900Mbps+ (to the ONT). It’s a bit slower out of the router and (of course) WiFi does not deliver anywhere near 900Mbps; but 450Mbps was seen in the same room as the router.
See my post on Toob Installation and Performance