Solway Comms Setup Temporary Wireless Broadband for Flood Hit Carlisle

Cumbria-based ISP Solway Communications has moved to help at least some of those affected by the recent floods in Carlisle by installing a free superfast wireless broadband network for the Warwick Road area. On top of that it will be completely free of charge for at least the next 3 months.

Apparently the local Carlisle United Football Club have assisted the effort by making one of their lighting towers available to help redistribute the service, which is supporting a symmetrical 100Mbps connection for the area. This will be a big help given the serious damage to BTOpenreach’s local fixed line phone and broadband infrastructure, which will take time to fully repair.

Nick Kittoe, Solway Communications Managing Director, said (Carlisle United):

“I hope this will help Carlisle to get quickly back on its feet in 2016. Of course, we couldn’t have set up this facility without the help of Carlisle United, who allowed us to use their tower and deserve a big vote of thanks.

Solway Communications was set up to make Carlisle the best connected city in Britain. Our fibre-optic and wireless networks were unaffected by the recent flooding because they have no copper wires to short out, or equipment in vulnerable street-cabinets. This is just another demonstration of the power of our technologies and creativity of local engineers. We feel honoured to be called The Waterproof Broadband Company.”

The network is also being used to help off-load local traffic from the major mobile network operators. Public services, such as police and doctors, will also be able to make use of the temporary connection.