NORTHLEW is one of the first places in the UK to benefit from a pioneering new way to get superfast broadband to challenging areas. 

Households and businesses in the village now have access to broadband speeds of up to 80Mbps — thanks to a four kilometre microwave radio link, which has replaced the need for a fibre optic cable and extensive excavations.

More than 120 Northlew customers —about half of the households and businesses in the village — are already using the high-speed technology.

The pilot scheme was made possible by the £94- million Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) programme, a partnership between local authorities in Devon and Somerset and BT.

Paul Coles, BT South West regional manager, said: 'Getting superfast broadband to Northlew has been an immensely challenging and satisfying project. We knew that it would not be viable to lay a fibre optic cable to such a small remote community, but we were able to make the village one of the first places in the UK to try out this new microwave radio solution.

'I'd particularly like to thank the people of Northlew for their invaluable support. When it comes to being connected they have shown amazing community spirit and determination. BT and the Connecting Devon and Somerset team have worked with them closely to make this project a reality.

'The radio link connects to a new broadband cabinet near the centre of the village, which offers all the usual fibre broadband speeds and benefits. This is just one example of many innovative approaches to bringing fibre-based broadband to remote communities — and that innovation will continue.

'We're more than four years into rolling out fibre broadband across the South West, whether through our commercial programme or with our public sector partners, so the production line is well and truly established and primed to deliver even more over the coming years.'

Devon County Council member for the Hatherleigh and Chagford division James McInnes said: 'We are very proud to have secured this pilot study to connect up one of our historic rural villagesand the people of Northlew worked closely with the team to make it possible.

'This is another example of how the Connecting Devon and Somerset programme is bringing superfast broadband to communities who otherwise would not be getting it. By proving the value of this new technology, we hope that it will be used in other appropriate locations in the future.'

Among the Northlew residents to benefit from fibre broadband is Graham Everitt, who runs a freelance consultancy from home, working with photo libraries across the UK.

'High-speed fibre broadband has made a huge difference to me both from a business and personal point of view,' he said.

'For example, as part of my work I often send large files or images to newspapers, PR agencies and other organisations and in the past this has sometimes involved me having to drive seven miles to a Little Chef restaurant to get a sufficiently good connection.

'The benefits are not just about speed, however. There is also the reliability.

'From a personal point of view, I have been able to download films and my daughter, who has just moved to secondary school, is able to use it for her homework and staying in touch with friends.'

The multi-million pound CDS partnership includes Devon and Somerset County Councils, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay Councils, BT and the UK Government's Superfast Britain programme.

Connecting Devon and Somerset, alongside the private sector's commercial programme, aims to make superfast broadband available to around 90 percent of premises by the end of 2016.  It also intends to ensure a minimum of 2 Mbps for all homes and businesses within the programme area.

Anyone wishing to access the new service will need to contact their internet service provider to discuss a new package.

More information on Connecting Devon and Somerset can be found on the website at http://www.connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk">www.connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk