Integrated Digital Services Secure BDUK Funds for Wireless Broadband

A little known Wirral-based business ISP called Integrated Digital Services (IDS) claims to have been “awarded public funding” from the UK Government’s Broadband Delivery UK programme in order to help them deploy a 30Mbps+ capable wireless network to serve “digitally disadvantaged” rural areas in England and Wales.

At this stage we’re unsure which BDUK contract the ISP has actually won (currently trying to find out) and their website makes no mention of any residential packages, which suggests that this project is still in the very early stages of development or isn’t quite as advertised.

The ISP has also just put in an application for Code Powers from Ofcom, which are often sought by infrastructure builders in order to help them simplify and speed-up the planning process, not least by reducing the number of licenses needed for civil engineering. The related document contains a few hints about their plan.

Ofcom’s Statement (Code Powers for IDS)

As mentioned above the Applicant [IDS] has been awarded public funding under open tender for the construction of network systems to deliver wireless broadband coverage to designated rural communities in digitally disadvantaged areas of the UK which include the most dense rural areas where only ‘basic’ broadband (up to 2Mbit/s) is currently available.

The Applicant has explained that it will be deploying a range of affordable services up to 30Mbit/s, for residential users and bespoke commercial/industrial systems with higher speeds. Its network deployment will allow for new technologies, such as cloud services and storage, to be available either directly, or through IT resellers.

In order to deliver its network into designated locations it will need to build new infrastructure and also place equipment on existing infrastructure such as tall buildings, existing telecommunications masts. The Applicant has explained that it will be constructing wooden poles and lattice masts in fields as well as telecoms cabinets to house equipment and circular antennae of various sizes.

The Applicant states that it has considered alternatives, such as building copper or fibre extensions to rural areas, but that these are cost prohibitive to the point where there is no sustainable business case.

We will update again if or when more information surfaces.