ISP EE Launch Fixed 4G and Mobile Broadband Service to Rural Cumbria UK

Mobile operator EE has today announced the launch of both a 4G (LTE) based fixed wireless and mobile broadband network to serve rural homes and businesses in the Northern Fells area of Cumbria (England), which should receive average internet speeds of between 8-12Mbps (Megabits).

The new network, which follows on from EE’s 1800MHz based trial of superfast “4G” Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology in the isolated rural Cumbria community of Threlkeld that took place last year (here), is expected to cover an area of almost 100 square miles and reach more than 2,000 residents with “headline” speeds potentially reaching 20Mbps or more.

Seven Parishes in the Northern Fells area of Cumbria:
* Boltons – Allerdale
* Caldbeck – Allerdale
* Castle Sowerby – Eden
* Ireby & Uldale – Allerdale
* Mungrisdale – Eden
* Sebergham & Welton – Allerdale
* Rosley & Westward – Allerdale

Customers can expect to pay from £15.99 per month for the new service and new packages are expected to be introduced once the operator has had a chance to evaluate the usage and behaviour of their service. The deployment is also intended to help inform other potential 4G rollouts across rural parts of the UK.

Olaf Swantee, CEO of EE, said:

“Using our dedication to innovation and engineering excellence, we are overcoming the challenges of delivering rural connectivity to launch a 4G mobile broadband service in Cumbria. This is yet another big step in advancing digital communications in the UK. We’re offering one of the fastest mobile networks in the world, and are pioneering how to make superfast broadband available to homes and businesses that currently have little or no connectivity.”

Rory Stewart, MP for Penrith and Borders, added:

“This is a major step forward for my constituents. Superfast broadband is making a massive difference to the way that people live their lives and do business. The 4G trial that started last year has already made a substantial difference to people in the Northern Fells community, and it is a hugely positive step to see this being moved to a full launch over the coming months. EE is a great British business that is investing in sharing the power of connectivity with citizens living in some of the most remote parts of the UK.”

At least part of the money for improving broadband provision in the area is expected to come from the government’s Rural Communities Broadband Fund (RCBF), which is also working to bring better connectivity to the Eden Valley and Great Asby areas.

The new fixed wireless service aims to cover 84% of the Northern Fells population by summer 2013 and those interested in taking part can register their interest at the link below. Meanwhile anybody interested in EE’s standard Mobile Broadband packages, which will also be rolled out to some parts of Cumbria, should check out the operator’s website.

It’s important to note that a fixed wireless service is normally faster and more flexible (usage) than a standard Mobile Broadband product, although at the same time fixed solutions often require you to install a special antenna at the top of your home and that can attract a higher one-off installation cost. The final details for this are not yet known.

Northern Fells Broadband (Register Your Interest in EE’s Service)
http://www.northernfellsbroadband.co.uk/pages/eeregister.php