Bentham Hyperfast

A grass roots campaign by residents to provide access to the B4RN Hyperfast community owned fibre broadband

  • Broadband for Rural North (B4RN) is a non profit community benefit enterprise run by the community with profits coming back to the community.
  • B4RN members, - farmers and residents dig fibre optic cable cheaply and easily through field and gardens. Farmers give "way leave" to dig through their land and use drainage mole ploughs and trench diggers as well as some where needed by hand.
  • Community shares and loans are quickly paid back by income from houses connected.
  • An extensive successful rollout has already connected most of the rural Lune Valley from Abbeystead to Arkholme. They are soon to be near Low Bentham at Oysterber Farm and near High Bentham at Big Stone.
  • Phone calls can be made over the fibre connection - no need for a landline saving £16.99 line rental. Vonage do an all in calls for £7 per month.
    • £30 per month and a one off £150 connection fee to cover hardware.
B4RN Was formed in 2011 when it was realised that rural farms and residences would not be provided with realistic broadband under the current scheme of "superfast" broadband rolled out by the Government and BT. Only 2Mbps were to be offered to those far from the exchanges due to the inherent physical limitations of copper wire.

B4RN realised that fibre optic to the home was needed. 
They came up with a simple and radical solution. Farmers and residents would dig the fibre optic through their fields using simple readily available drainage mole plough, ditch diggers and by hand for under walls etc.

It is a successful and cheap statergy - the roads did not need to be dug up ( just occasional crossing points) and the farmers and landowners provide wayleave across thier own fields.

So far B4RN have connected:
Arkholme, Abbeystead, Aughton, Borwick, Capernwray, Dolphinholme, Gressingham, Newton, Docker, Littledale, Quernmore, Roeburndale, Wray, Wennington, Tatham, and is now approaching Melling, Priest Hutton, Whittington and Wrayton. With plans to extend to Clapham, Keasden and Newby across Benthan Moor via Mewith.
It makes sense to try and get Low and High Bentham.

Broadband for the Rural North Ltd (B4RN) was setup as a not for profit social enterprise rather than as a standard limited company to reflect its commitment to the community rather than any profit motive. It was registered as a Community Benefit Society within the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 (IPS) on 15th August 2011, and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority. 

Why do we need it ?

In the last ten years since we have had Broadband in Low and High Bentham new services have developed, TV and films streamed over broadband, by Netflix, Amazon, iTunes and other entertainment channels have used up much of the 6Mbps with more sport and online gaming even a "superfast" 26Mbps connection will soon be outdated in todays modern family home. Also the further from the cabinet the slower the speed due to the last bit being copper wire. B4RN bring fibre direct to the home and so the speed does not slow down or pick up interference. B4RN is 1,000Mbps and is easily upgradable for future needs - whatever they may be.

How will it get to my house ?

Usually from the back garden and from the fields that surround Low and High Bentham. This is quick and avoids expensive and disruptive roadworks. Most properties in Bentham are quite close to open fields at the back of the property and even those "islands" in the centre of High Bentham have long spines of joining garden whereby after a short cross under a road many properties can be connected.
Farmers and landowners will have to grant way leave but as they themselves will be able to connect it will be to everyones advantage. The fibre broadband will increase the saleable value of each property whether they subscribe or not so we should be able to convince neighbours. It will mean we will have to come together as a community.
  • Future proof for our children and their children. Easily upgradable by the flick of a switch at the hub in Tele-City Manchester. Extra fibre capacity is put in as a matter of course.
  • Prices will remain stable and competitive for the future, the profit returns to the community. B4RN has no expensive marketing or gimmick "packages"
  • A fast broadband connection increases the market value of properties
  • The fibre comes direct to the house. It dosnt use the outdated copper wire that is prone to interference, mechanical damage and speed drops due to distance. No line rental charges. Calls can be made via VOIP voice over the internet.
  • As a community broadband provider B4RN ensure that every house the fibre passes can connect now or in the future if they don't choose to subscribe now. Your neighbours don't need to opt in for you to get it
Picture from B4RN Facebook page of a happy B4RN customer