Birley homes and businesses celebrate the arrival of ultrafast broadband.

A partnership between Herefordshire Council’s Fastershire broadband project, and wholesale network provider, FullFibre Ltd has overcome the enormous challenge of bringing gigabit broadband to 30 rural properties scattered around the parish of Birley in north Herefordshire.

Suffering from previous speeds of less than 30Mbps, the community was eligible for support from Fastershire’s Community Grant Scheme.

Sarah de Rohan, High Sheriff of Herefordshire and Birley resident, who took on the role of Community Lead for the project, said she was ‘delighted that Birley and the surrounding area now have ultra-fast broadband. Having the chance to connect to full fibre will transform life for the families and businesses living and working in the community. It’s taking tremendous hard work and perseverance from all those involved, and I would like to thank FullFibre Ltd and Fastershire for making faster broadband possible.’

The innovative approach meant the Birley Community, Fastershire, and FullFibre Ltd could work together to negotiate the agreements with land owners needed to dig 11km of fibre optic cable. Having won a competitive tender, FullFibre Ltd completed the rural network on schedule and to the highest standards, which means Birley can now benefit from blazing fast fibre optics that will provide resilient, affordable and reliable broadband for decades to come.

The Area General Manager of FullFibre Ltd, Gareth Yardley, highlighted,

‘FullFibre is proud to announce that Birley now has access to ultrafast broadband, offering more possibilities for the community and residents. We hope this technology will create more opportunity for the area and remove any isolation from the modern world.”

Councillor Ellie Chowns, Cabinet member for environment and economy at Herefordshire Council, said, ‘Herefordshire Council’s Fastershire project has made a real difference to homes and businesses throughout the county. It’s great that our Community Grant Scheme is finding creative solutions to help bring faster broadband to those households still struggling with slow connections.

‘Fastershire’s Community Grant Scheme is currently enabling more communities across Herefordshire to benefit from all the advantages of being connected to the fastest broadband speeds available.

Click here to learn more about Fibre Heroes and their mission to leave no area behind.

Click here to learn more about the Community Broadband Scheme and the other ways Fastershire is making rural broadband possible.