New internet connection hits the spot in rural North Yorkshire
BUSINESSES located in remote North Yorkshire villages are now benefitting from next generation broadband thanks to NYnet and NextGenUs UK CIC.
The new community broadband project, which is the first of its kind in England, promises to tackle the social and economic disadvantages that result from a lack of internet in rural areas.
Newton-on-Rawcliffe and Stape near Pickering previously suffered from a slow or non-existent internet connection, which further isolated the community.
NYnet has provided fibre-based internet to within striking distance of the villages where it is beamed wirelessly over 24km to outlying homes and businesses by community interest company NextGenUs UK CIC.
As a result of the initiative, residents will be able to access a broadband connection with up to 10Mbps upload and download speeds.
Mike Steele of Kale Pot Hole, who runs an event management company and holiday cottage from his home, said that the new connection had already made a “huge” difference to his business and family life.
Mr Steele added: “The broadband connection has made an incredible difference to my life. It has reduced my working hours and given me time to keep in touch with my family who are spread all over the world, via web cam.
“Businesses and clients used to send me files that could take up to a day to clear from my server – it was often quicker to receive files by post!”
David Cullen, chief executive of NYnet said: “North Yorkshire is England’s largest county and has some of the most remote villages in England. Newton-on-Rawcliffe and Stape is the first pilot project in a series of community broadband initiatives that NYnet plan to introduce in rural villages throughout North Yorkshire.”
Guy Jarvis, chief executive of NextGenUs UK CIC, said: “This is a pioneering project which can now be repeated across rural Notspots and Slowspots in North Yorkshire and beyond.”
Since 2007, NYnet has provided high-speed broadband to 70% of public sector organisations in North Yorkshire, a number of private businesses via business parks and now private residences through the community broadband project.
It was formed by Yorkshire Forward and North Yorkshire County Council with funding from the European Union to provide a super-fast internet network across North Yorkshire.
NextGenUs is a Yorkshire-based community interest company formed to undertake next generation, super-fast community broadband projects across the UK.
The company ensures that all surpluses generated are distributed in the community’s interest helping local businesses and residents.
