Government funding to boost broadband speeds

Tuesday, 25 September 2018 14:01

By Carmelo Garcia - Local Democracy Reporter

Some of the county’s most remote homes and businesses are set to benefit from faster internet thanks to microwave technology.

Herefordshire Council’s broadband initiative, Fastershire has secured £5m-worth of government funding to provide superfast broadband access for 10 dispersed clusters of properties across the county.

High speed wireless rural broadband specialists Airband have been selected to deliver a highly innovative hybrid solution, called Rural Optic.

This will see fibre to properties served from a microwave backhaul which is capable of delivering broadband speeds of 100mbps and more to consumers. The microwave element will remove a major cost barrier and will allow some of the most remote properties in the county to be reached.

Councillor David Harlow, economy and communications cabinet member, said: “This is another significant milestone for Herefordshire.

“Currently 85% of Herefordshire can already access superfast broadband as a result of phase one of the project and over the next two years, phase two will increase superfast coverage to 98%.

“As more properties gain access to faster broadband the remaining hardest to reach premises will require increasingly more innovative and bespoke solutions like this. We are doing everything possible to extend access as far as we can, including through the use of EU funding currently available, either through this RDPE funding or our ERDF business grants.”

One business set to benefit from this new rollout is M Lloyd Engineering, in Stansbatch near Presteigne, who manufactures and exports screening machinery globally.

Matthew Lloyd said: “80% percent of our business goes abroad and this means communications are absolutely essential. Fast, reliable broadband will save us time and money, enabling us to provide real time tutorials to customers as far afield as the US and Korea and will allow us to utilise a range of new methods of working.”

The scheme is managed by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs using the Rural Development Programme for England.

Rural Affairs Minister Lord Gardiner said: “It is excellent to see more rural areas such as Herefordshire benefiting from connections to fast and reliable broadband. Rural areas should not be left behind in the connectivity slow lane, missing out on the opportunities high speed broadband can bring. Thousands of residents and businesses in Herefordshire will benefit.

“The funding made available through the Rural Broadband Infrastructure Scheme champions our countryside communities and businesses by opening up access to broadband in some of the hardest-to-reach areas.”

To find out if your property can already access faster broadband or where your property sits in the Fastershire rollout, visit www.fastershire.com and use the address checker.

More from Local News

Today's Weather

  • Hereford

    Light rain

    High: 11°C | Low: 3°C

  • Ludlow

    Heavy Rain

    High: 10°C | Low: 3°C

  • Abergavenny

    Hail shower

    High: 10°C | Low: 4°C

  • Monmouth

    Heavy Rain

    High: 11°C | Low: 4°C

Like Us On Facebook