Community UK ISP B4RN (Broadband 4 the Rural North), which typically works with volunteers inside rural villages across England to help deploy their 10Gbp speed Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network, has officially begun the next phase of their expansion – taking them further into Northumberland and County Durham.
Just to recap. B4RN is a registered Community Benefit Society (i.e. they can’t be bought by a commercial operator and profits go back into the community) that has already expanded their full fibre network to cover 25,000 premises (plus over 13,000 customers) across various remote rural parts of Lancashire, Cheshire, Cumbria, Northumberland, Essex, Norfolk, Suffolk and Yorkshire.
The good news today is that B4RN are now embarking upon a further network expansion, which will take them from their heartlands (Lancashire and Cumbria) and push further into remote parts of both Northumberland and County Durham. The move comes after the Government’s (Building Digital UK) Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) approved funding for the next phase of this work.
The first phase of the project, which saw B4RN building their fibre optic broadband network across communities within the Allen Valleys – from Spartylea through to Whitfield and Catton, has already been completed. This “connected” a total of around 545 properties. But two more phases are due to follow, and they will ultimately reach several thousand additional premises.
B4RN’s North East England Expansion
Phase One (built) – Saw B4RN connecting the Allen Valleys, from Spartylea through to Whitfield and Catton.
Phase Two (in delivery) – Currently in delivery and covers the area of Barrasford, Kirkwelpington and Woodburn. Total of 1,300 properties (RFS).
Phase Three (in development) – Total of 4,200 properties (RFS).
Northumberland
– Kielder Forest
– Simonburn
– Tarset & Falstone
– Warden
– Wall & Sandhoe
– Humshaugh
– Hexhamshire
– Slaley & Healey
– Hexham West
County Durham
– Weardale East
– Weardale West
Lynne Rawles, B4RN’s Volunteer Champion For Barrasford, Kirkwelpington and Woodburn, said:
“Our story started with a need for better broadband in a poorly served remote area of Northumberland. I initially brought together fifteen volunteers from eight rural parishes with a dream to offer every property who wanted a 1,000 megabits fibre broadband connection to their door.
We researched and approached a number of suppliers before finding B4RN. Out of all the suppliers, B4RN was the only one to commit to supply every property in each parish no matter how distant and remote. No-one would be left behind.
At the end of 2023 B4RN started mole-ploughing their network and connecting properties. The aim is to finish the complete network by the end of 2024.
We are very proud of the work being done now. B4RN, together with our volunteers, are transforming our part of Northumberland into one of the best connected places to live in the UK. This is a huge legacy to leave for generations to come.”
Initial work on the pre-planning and engineering surveys will commence soon on Phase Three and B4RN will shortly begin engaging with the communities in all of these areas. In addition, it’s worth remembering that the operator is also still providing free connections and service to local primary schools, village halls, places of worship, as well as other community assets, such as community shops, in the places they cover.