ISP Quickline Moot UK Expansion of 50Mbps Wireless Broadband Network

Fixed wireless ISP Quickline, which runs a 50Mbps capable broadband network in parts of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire and around the Pennines of England, has revealed that they’re also mooting an expansion along the M62/A1 corridor and could bid on future state aid supported broadband contracts.

At this point we should note that Quickline are already taking part in a £2 million Market Test Pilot with the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK project (here), which has helped to expand their network to cover several thousand additional homes and businesses in northern Lincolnshire (East England).

The operator has also just applied to Ofcom for Code Powers, which would simplify the planning process (no need for lots of individual licenses during civil works) and can thus speed-up the roll-out of new networks.

As part of that submission they’ve revealed a desire to further expand their network coverage along the M62/A1 corridor, taking in additional parts of Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Rutland and Birmingham. Furthermore the ISP said they were also currently acquiring new sites in East and North Yorkshire.

Quickline’s Code Powers Submission

The Applicant has explained that it would like to increase the speed and delivery of broadband services particularly in relation to BDUK areas and its core customer base. However, it explained that it currently has to go through the full planning process on all of its sites when a high proportion of those would be within ‘permitted development’ rights and therefore could, with Code powers, be accessed without such planning processes. In its view, Code powers would enable it to make sites ‘transmission’ ready 8 weeks (minimum) earlier than currently achieved.

Further, the Applicant has explained that, in the absence of Code powers, it has not sought to carry out development on the highways. However, it has suggested that (in a small proportion of its sites) it will need to deploy infrastructure on streets in order to make deployment possible and that Code powers will be important in order to ensure that it can deploy its network cost-efficiently (and, in respect of the BDUK scheme, at good value for the tax payer).

The Applicant has also explained that it is important that its infrastructure has security of tenure, so it can provide broadband services smoothly with no interruption and not be at a disadvantage to other BDUK contractors. In its view, Code powers will provide it with this security.

As usual Ofcom’s has given their provisional approval, although this is still subject to a short consultation until 19th September 2016. However such requests are rarely declined and so it’s a safe bet that Quickline will get the new powers, but we’ll have to wait and see precisely what they do with them.

Related broadband packages tend to start at £29.99 per month for an unlimited 10Mbps (5Mbps upload) service, which rises to £59.99 for their top 50Mbps (15Mbps upload) capable product. The one-off cost of installation varies and can be anything from £0 to £295, depending upon the area.