Broadband boost for Northumberland village

Residents and businesses in Bellingham, Northumberland are set to enjoy improved internet in the coming months. The local council recently announced it is allocating £20,000 to help make broadband in the village faster and more reliable.

The council funding will support efforts to improve user access to the high-speed services needed to help companies operate effectively. This includes better VOIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) call quality and seamless web browsing, and ensures homeowners can easily use of essential online services and entertainment.

Representative for the Bellingham ward, Northumberland County Councillor John Riddle, commented:

“Most urban areas benefit from great internet access, but in many of our isolated communities it is difficult to get any connection. I am delighted to be able to support the installation, which I know will improve the lives of so many local people.”

Project manager for Broadband for the Rural North (B4RN), Martin Dickson-Green, voiced his appreciation for Cllr Riddle’s support via the grant from the Members Local Improvement Scheme. He added that local backing is valuable to the registered community benefit society as it helps B4RN cross the digital divide and make sure that the UK’s most remote areas are not left behind.

The £20,000 in funding will now play an important part in bringing a hyper-fast service that supplies gigabit-capable fibre to the premises (FTTP) broadband to a wide range of rural communities sited around Wallington Demesne, Bavington and Kirkwhelpington.

Professionally designed, B4RN is a fibre optic broadband network and describes itself as the fastest rural broadband in the world.