Wireless broadband is the answer for Altnets looking to access £150m Government funding for UK rural connectivity

LONDON, UK, February 28, 2017 – Superfast rural connectivity schemes using fixed wireless broadband technology will be pivotal for alternative network providers (Altnets) hoping to win a major slice of the latest BDUK funding programme, operators were told today.

Speaking as part of the Independent Network Co-operative Association (INCA) seminar “Bidding For BDUK Projects & The Better Broadband Scheme,” Dan McCarthy, Cambium Networks’ UK sales manager for the UK, Ireland and Nordics, highlighted the qualities of wireless connectivity as being particularly suitable for the UK market. Cambium Networks is a leading provider of wireless networking solutions, deployed by network operators, public and private, of all sizes around the world.

“As the Government looks to meet superfast connectivity targets, fixed wireless technology will play a key role in building the networks to enable ubiquitous broadband across the country,” said McCarthy. “Altnets which utilise this technology will find themselves in a very good position to secure funding due to the many advantages wireless networks offer to operators; they are quick, simple and cost-effective to deploy and enable the high-capacity connections stipulated for Superfast coverage of 30 Mbps downlink and 6 Mbps uplink.”

Despite the suitability of Fixed Wireless Access, McCarthy went on to warn operators that not all solutions are the same when it comes to being successful with BDUK bids.

“When it comes to wireless solutions, it is easy to see them all as being equal but some are more equal than others,” said McCarthy. “When choosing a vendor, operators which select one offering BDUK-compliant equipment will find themselves at an advantage when applying for funding. A simple and fast migration path from Superfast broadband to ultrafast broadband, such as the one offered by our portfolio, will also stand them in good stead.”

McCarthy demonstrated the sort of success such a solution can bring with a Cambium Networks customer – Quickline, which delivers fast reliable Internet connectivity to Business, Public Sector and Residential customers via an independent Fibre and Fixed Wireless Access network, alongside its partner networks.

Cambium Networks provided its PMP 450 and ePMP™ Elevate solutions to boost Quickline’s networks in Yorkshire, enabling 50Mbps throughput to more than 1,000 subscribers to be connected to superfast broadband.

Quckline’s Managing Director Steve Jagger said: “The expertise and experience which the Cambium Networks’ team brought to this project really helped its success. We were also very impressed by the product set, which has the advantage of simplifying deployment and has predictable, reliable NGA characteristics required for State Aid Compliance.”

McCarthy also highlighted how a number of grants have recently been awarded to Altnets under the BDUK scheme. Currently, more than £100m of funding is available to suppliers able to serve rural areas with superfast broadband services, with £400m of gainshare funding from the original BDUK contracts potentially available.

INCA is working with BDUK to help more Altnets take advantage of the funding, with today’s seminar part of these efforts. The second part of the event – NGA Compliance for Local Access Providers – will take place tomorrow at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms in
London.