Rural broadband provider brings wireless broadband to Gloucestershire villages

Rural broadband provider Voneus has announced the extension of it superfast capable Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) network to cover premises around the rural Gloucestershire villages of Sharpness and Newton.

Some residents of the Welsh villages had previously been restricted to speeds of c.5Mbps, with several slowspots reportedly in the villages. However, some areas were reportedly able to access Openreach’s Fibre-to-the-Cabinet network.

Voneus’ FWA network will deliver speeds of 30Mbps and higher to residents of the villages and in some surrounding areas on the River Severn. To roll out the network, the provider has partnered with Sharpness logistics firm Howard Tenens.

The wireless antenna has been installed on the 32-metre-high roof of Howard Tenens’ Sharpness logistics hub, allowing wireless broadband to be beamed to several local farms, including one across the Severn Estuary. All premises with an unbroken line of sight to any of the farms can access the new range of services.

Voneus claims to have deployed a new type of antennae for the rollout, which it says is capable of providing superfast broadband speeds to more premises than was previously possible. It adds that, by installing equipment on strategically placed farms, it has the potential to reach even more premises in the surrounding area.

Voneus CEO Steve Leighton said: “It’s brilliant to once again be able to combine our creative engineering with local community spirit to connect another deserving rural community to Superfast speeds, especially at a time when decent broadband has been so critical to our daily lives.”

“Howard Tenens together with a number of local farmers have been exceptionally keen to help out, not just because they were frustrated with their own network speeds, but because they recognise the economic and social benefits that decent broadband delivers to remote – often forgotten – communities.”

Project manager Richard Rees of Voneus oversaw the deployment and said: “Having spent time with various members of the Sharpness and Newton communities it is clear that our Superfast broadband service will have a huge positive impact to their lives”.