B4RN Complete Primary 1Gbps FTTH Broadband Build for Rural Casterton

The B4RN for Casterton project has completed the primary roll-out of their 1Gbps community built and funded fibre optic (FTTP/H) broadband network to the rural Cumbria village of Casterton and several surrounding areas, which was supported by £91,700 of local funding.

The new network covers Casterton, which is home to around 450 people, and three isolated Casterton Parish properties, Bullpot Farm, Gale Garth and Smithy House (for logistical reasons the latter were connected into the wider B4RN network through Barbon). As usual a team of 45 volunteers, alongside B4RN’s own civil engineers and local contractor Tony Swiddenbank, helped to build the network.

Gary Mawdsley, Owner of Casterton-based Anzen Data, said (Westmorland Gazette):

“The analogy I draw is that BT is the horse and cart and B4RN is the Mercedes Saloon. It is that marked. B4RN gives us the capability of almost being in Phoenix next to the machinery we are using whereas on the BT nctwork we would always feel we were remote because of the fragility of the system.”

Apparently 70% of homes in Casterton have already adopted the service and the final house installations are now taking place. Casterton is of course just one of many areas where B4RN are working to deploy their network, which has so far connected 3,300+ properties and has recently expanded into Norfolk and Suffolk (here).

Customers pay just £30 per month for a 1000Mbps (symmetrical) unlimited service and there’s also a one-off connection fee of £150.