The NextGenUs ( Fibrestream ) FiWi project in Cumbria UK, which seeks to bring faster broadband internet access to the whole region by using a mix of fibre optic ( FTTH ) and wireless ( Wi-Fi ) technology (original announcement), has issued a promising progress update for the rural villages of Milburn, Cliburn and Great Salkeld.

Residents in the remote and medieval fortified village of Milburn will soon be able to access download speeds of up to 30Mbps after NextGenUs installed a wireless node on top of the local school's flag pole (most homes have direct line of sight to this pole). Previously the village had only been able to achieve an average connection speed of just 0.3Mbps via BT's existing telephone lines.

Similar progress has also been made in Cliburn where the company was able to install a wireless node on top of the local Golden Pheasant pub. The pub can already receive fixed line speeds of 6-7Mbps, though many others in the village get below 2Mbps due to bad quality cables. As a result those worst affected will now be able to get much faster speeds.

Finally NextGenUs's plan to develop and deploy a new 100Mbps capable Fibre-to-the-Home ( FTTH ) broadband ISP network in the Eden Valley village of Great Salkeld (here) are also progressing. As pictured top-right, locals have just begun to dig their own garden trenches for the fibre optic cable. At present Great Salkeld residents experience broadband speeds of between just 1 and 5Mbps.

The NextGenUs Cumbria FiWi project is being supported by a privately funded investment exceeding £1 Million in Phase One. So far no public money has been needed to support the work.