Somerset UK Focused Wireless ISP Preps 150Mbps Broadband Boost

Fixed wireless access (FWA) provider WestWiFi, which tends to focus most of its coverage around central and northern Somerset in South West England, appears set to launch a new set of “ultrafast broadband” packages with top download speeds of 100Mbps and 150Mbps.

At present the fastest package available to consumers is a cheap £10 inc. VAT per month (£75 one-off installation) service that offers unlimited usage (fair usage policy), a 50:1 contention ratio, 18 month contract term, all the necessary hardware and maximum download speeds of up to 57Mbps (18.6Mbps upload). The average speeds for that same package are 38.4Mbps down and 14.4Mbps up.

The good news is that the ISP has now begun testing a new ultrafast broadband upgrade on their network, which has this week demonstrated speeds of up to 155Mbps (Megabits per second) and is said to be just “days away from field deployment“. The provider added that “most” of their existing customers are already within the forthcoming ultrafast coverage and an option to upgrade will be “coming soon“.

The Line of Sight (LoS) wireless network typically operates off the 5GHz radio spectrum band and, assuming no obstructions, can reach properties that are situated up to 15 miles away from its mast / transmitters. As usual wireless performance can be quite variable depending upon issues of distance, obstructions and weather conditions.

Speaking of coverage, the network was recently extended to cover some additional areas including parts of Taunton, Henlade, Blackbrook, Ruishton, Creech St Micheal, Thornfalcon and Staple Fitzpaine. A further extension to cover Watchet and the Bristol Channel has also been completed, while the network for Burnham and Highbridge are currently being built.