B4RN were presented with some golden duct (and a big cake!) by our supplier Emtelle, who’ve now made 5,000,000 metres of it for us! Our Frank (“The Blow”), Will, Chris and Barry were at Melling HQ to receive it. Emtelle have been working with B4RN from the very beginning, providing all sizes and lengths of … [Read more…]
A family from Brookhouse who shared what having B4RN meant for them during Covid-19 lockdown has won an Amazon Alexa, donated by B4RN’s volunteer computer club. It wasn’t easy to decide who would receive it (you can read all the stories by clicking here) but congratulations to the Humphreys! You can watch their video submission below, … [Read more…]
A vicar has told how B4RN was crucial to allow worship to continue in the Lune Valley during lockdown, as churches begin to reopen their doors. Revd Michael Hampson wrote in the Wagtail Newsletter this week. He said: “We were delighted earlier this summer when we were able to unlock our churches once again for … [Read more…]
An IT Engineer in Melling was left with his head in the clouds by B4RN’s download speed. Software developer Adam Laycock’s a fan of Microsoft’s Flight Simulator – so when the 2020 version became available in mid-August he took off to get it. Flight Simulator is a bit of a jumbo jet when it comes … [Read more…]
B4RN volunteers, customers and the Computer Club have all helped with government research on the importance of high-speed internet. BDUK analyst Marion Lean and dialectographer Mitch Miller visited the volunteer-led Computer Club as well as a farm in Roeburndale and the village of Barbon. The need for the internet is already nearly universally understood, but … [Read more…]
Four communities in East Anglia can now look forward to receiving B4RN’s gigabit broadband. Local volunteers and a B4RN team from Lancashire HQ helped complete road and rail crossings in early August and then installed the fibre cabinet in Burston. That will eventually allow properties in the South Norfolk villages of Burston, Shimpling, Gissing and … [Read more…]
A couple in Grisedale who’ve got B4RN feature in a new government case study. B4RN volunteer Gavin Keeble and his wife use their connection to help run their corporate training business out of Grisedale, Cumbria. You can read the full piece prepared by DCMS by clicking here. It details Gavin’s involvement with B4RN and the … [Read more…]
After two years’ hard work, Broadband for the Allen Valleys (B4AV) volunteers and B4RN engineers are connecting the first of 1,800 properties to their new full fibre 1Gbps community broadband network. With more than 350km of fibre optic duct laid, the first stage of the community broadband network is switched on. The North of Tyne … [Read more…]
B4RN is firing up its village build programme, called “B4RN Village”, to run alongside its traditional rural projects. Halton is the first area to benefit – a network to serve nearly 1,000 properties will be built. Some preparation work and soft-digging began there this week (commencing 20th July). Caton, Kirkby Lonsdale and Sedbergh are among … [Read more…]
B4RN asked our volunteers and customers what broadband had meant for them during Covid-19 lockdown. Thanks to everyone who responded with their personal stories throughout June and into July, we received more than one hundred completed surveys. A snapshot of how our rural communities stayed connected can be viewed or downloaded by clicking here. The … [Read more…]