NEWS | Broadband Boost for Bovine Business in Herefordshire

Showle Court, a working dairy farm in Monkhide, is the latest Herefordshire property to gain access to a new gigabit capable broadband connection. 

Owned by the Clay family, Showle Court is one of hundreds of properties in Monkhide,Yarkhill and the surrounding area that can now access a Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) gigabit capable broadband connection built as part of the Fastershire project.

Part-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, Fastershire is working with independent rural broadband provider Airband to bring gigabit capable fibre broadband to 10 communities across the county.  

Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) known as ‘full fibre’ is the newest form of fibre broadband and is considered more future proof as it can deliver gigabit download speeds (1,000Mbps) and Monkhide and Yarkhill is the latest section to complete.

“It’s definitely been worth the wait.” Mrs Clay explained, “Our old copper broadband service only provided around 2Mbps on a good day. We’re now able to attend business seminars online, which is new for us, and my son has installed a new system that uses our internet to monitor the location of our cows.”

It’s not just the business that has benefitted.  The whole family have been enjoying some of the things better broadband can offer, “The kids have been chatting non-stop to their friends from college and are finally able to enjoy watching YouTube and iPlayer without buffering.”

Airband’s project manager for the region, Chris Penkoks, is pleased with the progress his team have made.  “It’s been great to improve broadband within this area, and the response we have had from locals at every community meeting we have held has been wonderful.”

“We’ve now connected several communities to superfast fibre, such as Canon Frome, Monkhide and Yarkhill, and we expect to continue to add to this list with areas like Leintwardine, Brampton Bryan and Preston Cross.”

Over 93% of Herefordshire properties can access a superfast connection of 30mbps or greater, according to ThinkBroadband’s figures, with over 36% mainly in rural areas able to access a full fibre connection, well above the national average of only 23%. 

Councillor Ellie Chowns, the Cabinet member for environment and economy at Herefordshire Council said, “It’s really pleasing to see another community gain access to faster broadband. More than ever, we all understand just how much we all rely on the internet and as Fastershire’s rollouts continue cross Herefordshire we’re reaching more and more communities.”

To find out if your property can access faster broadband, visit www.fastershire.com.