allpay Broadband – coming to a parish near you soon
Pioneering network continues to expand
Parishes across the Diocese of Hereford are helping to build a pioneering rural broadband network using church towers.
Since the start of the year, more than 100 parochial church councils (PCCs) in Herefordshire and South Shropshire have registered their interest with allpay Broadband, the company behind the roll out of a wireless network covering some of the hardest-to-reach broadband ‘not spots’ in England.
The ground-breaking collaboration between the Diocese of Hereford and allpay has seen the creation of a unique licence allowing broadband equipment to be installed on church towers – following approval from the Diocesan Advisory Committee (DAC).
Among the first communities to benefit from the licence are Burghill and Madley. allpay has now installed broadband equipment on both church towers and is offering packages of up to 35Mb for residents and businesses in both villages.
Licence applications have also been submitted by PCCs in other key locations, including Wellington and Peterchurch. In addition, allpay is working with landowners in Preston-on-Wye, Staunton-on-Wye, Bridge Sollars, Brilley and The Bage. It is envisaged that high-speed wireless broadband will be available to each community by the end of the year.
As part of its ambitious plans to build a network to cover the whole of the Diocese’s geographic area, allpay is currently in advanced talks with Hereford Cathedral about the installation of equipment on the Cathedral tower. In addition, another prominent church in the city, St Peter’s, has submitted a licence application to the DAC.
“We have come a long way since our initial pilot project in the village of Kingstone,” explained allpay Broadband Manager Lisa Howell. “We are now providing a quality high speed wireless broadband service to more than half a dozen rural, often remote, communities and are hoping to have many more online before the end of the year.
“One of our biggest challenges is raising awareness amongst residents in active network locations that allpay Broadband is now available. We have always been grateful for the help offered by PCCs across the Diocese and it would be brilliant if they can help to spread the word. As there is a financial incentive for churches linked, it could be mutually beneficial.
“I would also urge individual residents to register their interest in the service via the allpay Broadband website. We need to find out where there is demand for the service as it will help shape our future network plans.”
To help up speed up its network delivery plans, allpay Broadband has been granted ‘Code Powers’ by the communications regulator Ofcom. The ‘powers’ mean allpay is now a recognised telecoms provider and allows the company to install equipment without having to apply for planning permission for churches situated within conservation areas.
Meanwhile, allpay has welcomed the news that Herefordshire has received a significant share of the £363 million funding pot the Government has made available for providing high speed broadband services in rural areas.
Herefordshire Council has been awarded £6,350,000 to ‘pump-prime’ improved broadband services throughout the county. Local parishes and market towns are being consulted, and local broadband champion volunteers have been recruited to work within their local communities.
“This is wonderful news. As a local broadband provider concentrating on largely rural areas, we think allpay is well placed to help deliver high-speed services to large parts of the county that currently do not have decent broadband access,” said Lisa Howell.
“We are looking forward to hearing more details and would happily make ourselves available as one of the council’s delivery partners.”
For more information about allpay Broadband and its work with the Diocese of Hereford, please contact Lisa Howell on 0844 5578322 or email: [email protected]. If you are resident interested in bringing allpay Broadband to your area, please register your details at www.allpaybroadband.com or contact Di Rogers on 0844 5578322 or email: [email protected]
allpay aims to enable more communities across Herefordshire, including those on the most rural areas, to surf the web using allpay Broadband. We recognise that many households, mostly in rural areas, are receiving either limited or no broadband service simply due to their location. We are active in many rural locations that are underserved by larger telecom providers.
Using a wireless link, we are able to offer communities a fast and reliable broadband service. This wireless link is transmitted through local access points and is received through a subscriber module. Compact in design, a subscriber module can be easily fixed to the roof of a house or business, with no disruption, allowing you instant access to the internet.
Once installed, allpay Broadband provides you with a reliable connection to the internet with speeds of up to 35Mb.
Service offering includes:
· Packages starting from £15 per month
· No BT Landline required
· Superfast broadband speeds up to 35Mb
· Existing coverage areas include Allensmore, Clehonger, Kingstone, Madley, Dinedor, Haywood and Burghill.
