Superfast wireless broadband rollout underway in rural Shropshire

News from our Connecting Shropshire partners Airband

Airband transmitters are located to have far-reaching views, providing superfast broadband access to as many properties as possible.

Connecting Shropshire and Airband have announced the live launch of the first transmitter site, serving over 300 homes and businesses. The transmitter provides superfast broadband connectivity of 30Mbps to parts of Sheriffhales and Shifnal parishes, and other communities further east, such as Tong.

Airband’s deployment of fixed wireless broadband works by sending a radio signal from a transmitter site to a small receiver attached to the property. A cable is then run into the building allowing the end-user to access the internet in the same way as any other broadband connection.

View from Airband transmitter

The project, part of the UK Government’s superfast broadband rollout and supported by the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, is boosting coverage in the Shropshire Council area up to 2020 and will provide superfast broadband to over 14,000 homes and businesses across some of the most rural parts of Shropshire, with areas going live incrementally as the rollout continues.

Dave Lloyd, Project Manager at Airband, said:-

“We are really excited to be announcing the first live site for this important community-based project – it highlights the progress we’re making to help connect rural residents across Shropshire. We’re planning to get several more sites live in the next few weeks and plan to keep up the pace for the duration of the project.”

Nic Laurens, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for broadband, said:

“This is a great, positive step forward for the work Shropshire Council is doing to enhance the quality of life for residents across the county. Superfast broadband enables people living, working and visiting Shropshire to benefit from all that a fast, reliable broadband connection can offer, ultimately boosting the prosperity of the economy.”

The project to deliver more superfast connectivity to Shropshire is supported by the Marches LEP, which secured more than £8m of Growth Deal funding specifically to improve access to high speed broadband in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.

Graham Wynn, Chairman of the Marches LEP, said:

“It’s great to see this rollout under way in Shropshire, giving people and businesses a chance to experience the benefits of a superfast broadband connection.” “We know that a lack of connectivity hinders business growth and we’re delighted that the £5.02m of funding via the LEP for Connecting Shropshire is already making a difference to communities in the county.”

To find out if you’re in Airband’s current or planned coverage area, please enter your postcode at: https://home.airband.co.uk/coverage/