WiSpire Secure Investment to Expand Wireless Broadband in Norfolk UK

The WiSpire network, which works alongside the Diocese of Norwich to offer faster wireless broadband services to isolated parts of rural Norfolk and north Suffolk (England, UK), has secured new investment that should improve its Internet performance and coverage.

WiSpire’s approach typically involves installing WiFi style wireless radio transmitters / transceivers on top of church towers, which are then used to distribute the service outwards and into surrounding communities.

The project has proven useful, particularly in areas that don’t expect to benefit from the state aid supported Better Broadband for Norfolk project, which is currently helping to roll-out BT’s superfast broadband (FTTC/P) services to 90% of the county (the first target is 80% by the end of 2015).

But despite all this WiSpire’s fastest home broadband speed is still an ‘up to’ 8Mbps (1Mbps uploads) package, although they do separately offer solutions via traditional fixed line ADSL and FTTC “fibre broadband” services even if their website doesn’t reveal any details.

The good news is that a community media publisher called Archant has now entered into a new commercial partnership with WiSpire, which is expected to help boost investment into the ISPs network and to improve their marketing reach (Archant controls a lot of advertising space in local magazines and newspapers etc.).

Richard Butler, CEO of the Diocese of Norwich, said (EDP24):

“Broadband access is critical to all consumers and businesses in our region. This new investment from Archant is incredibly exciting for our business and I am certain they will prove to be a great commercial partner. We are well set to achieve our business objective of providing connectivity in so-called ‘not-spot areas’ that are not supported by other providers.

We think the combined efforts of these two pillars of the community will make a real difference to the broadband connectivity of Norfolk homes, businesses, schools and churches.”

Sadly there’s no information on precisely what level of investment the deal involves, although we’d hope that they can find a way to offer “superfast broadband” (24Mbps+) capable packages as this might make them into a viable alternative when the third BDUK investment phase begins later this year or during early 2016.

Elsewhere the deal means that WiSpire will also benefit from some new office space and back office services, while Archant chairman Simon Bax and CEO Jeff Henry will both join the ISPs board.