Broadway Launch £2m Broadband Scheme for Monmouthshire

Rural operator Broadway Partners (ISP Broadway Broadband), which aims to roll-out their “gigabit-capable … fibre” network to cover 500,000 UK homes and businesses by the end of 2022, has announced a new £2m scheme to help improve connectivity across rural Monmouthshire in Wales.

At present the operator has already done a limited deployment of Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) and 60GHz fixed wireless mesh technology in the tiny local village of Llanddewi Rhydderch (here), but they’ve also previously revealed a plan to extend that network to another 40 villages in the county (here).

In terms of just Monmouthshire alone, Broadway has plans for more than 10,000 homes and businesses across the county to be “gigabit-capable” within the next 3 years (end of 2023). As part of that they’ve today announced a new investment of £2m, which is part-funded by a commercial loan from Monmouthshire County Council.

The company said their objective is to provide a “competitive source of gigabit backhaul in rural areas, thereby stimulating investment at the village level where connectivity is most needed. The network’s use of both microwave and fibre will ensure exceptional value for money as well as high speed of deployment, with first connected customers expected within weeks, and overall completion of the county-wide network within 18 months.”

Michael Armitage, CEO of Broadway Partners, said:

“This agreement, for Monmouthshire Council to provide loan funding to a special purpose vehicle (SPV), has been a year in the planning and execution, is an important step forward for the Council, breaking the mould of conventional thinking around digital infrastructure, and helping to bring forward the vision of ‘Gigabit for all by 2025.”

Cllr Phil Murphy said:

“When Broadway approached us with this idea, we could see the potential value for the County very clearly, not just in the attractive financial returns to the Council from this investment, but also in the indirect benefits that will come from enhanced digital connectivity. This project will further encourage increased inward investment to the County, it will boost the productivity of homeworkers and businesses, and it will help make the delivery of public services even more efficient.”

The network will be designed and built to “Carrier Grade standards of speed, reliability and resilience and, being Open Access, will be of benefit to local ISPs needing access to affordable backhaul, as much as to mobile operators planning to extend 4G and 5G coverage into rural areas.” The network will also provide gateways for IoT (Internet of Things) connectivity.