Broadband for the Rural North

rdf:langString Broadband for the Rural North

rdf:langString Broadband for the Rural North Limited

rdf:langString Broadband for the Rural North Limited

rdf:langString Michael Lee

rdf:langString England

rdf:langString B4RN - Broadband for the Rural North Ltd

rdf:langString Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN, read as "BARN") is a community-led project to bring high-speed broadband Internet connectivity to domestic FTTH and business properties in rural Lancashire, Cumbria, (North Pennines), Cheshire, Norfolk & Suffolk in England. It functions as an Internet service provider. The first homes, in Quernmore, were connected in 2012. Others, in Arkholme-with-Cawood, were next. Tests on the network quoted in February 2013 showed an download speed of over 917Mbit/s and upload speed of 530Mbit/s. UK regulator Ofcom cited a national average upload speed of 12.7Mbit/s at the time. Broadband for the Rural North Limited was registered as a Community Benefit Society within the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 (IPS) on 15 August 2011, and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (Registration number 31352R). It was formed to raise funds from the sale of shares to own and operate the network. However, much of the labour to dig trenches was supplied by local volunteers, who were rewarded with the chance to get a connection for their families or businesses. Some work is also rewarded in shares. Farmers and other landowners allowed free access for duct and the fibre within to cross their land. The company is headquartered in Lancaster and its chief executive is Michael Lee. Regardless of line distance and location, properties are offered a true 1Gbit/s (i.e. 1,000 Mbit/s Download and Upload) Point-To-Point Symmetric Fibre-To-The-Home services for every subscriber. Significant expansion is still underway in early 2015; B4RN services are already available in: * Abbeystead, * Arkholme, * Aughton, * Borwick, * Capernwray, * Littledale, * Claughton, * Docker, * Dolphinholme, * Gressingham, * Halton (eastern edge), * Newton, * Priest Hutton, * Quernmore, * Roeburndale, * Tatham, * Wennington, * Whittington, * Wray, and * Wrayton. Work is now approaching: * Melling, * , * Silverdale, * Halton, * Storth, * Clapham, * Caton (peripheries), and * Hornby. The latter three locations otherwise have BT exchanges.