This document provides options for improving rural broadband connectivity for communities. It suggests checking available self-help options like mobile and satellite broadband. It recommends waiting for or campaigning to get superfast broadband through the BDUK initiative, which could improve regular broadband access. Lastly, it encourages exploring self-help options like using mobile antennas, microwave networks, or community campaigns to raise funds and lay their own fiber networks if other options are insufficient.

1. How can I improve rural broadband for
communities I work with?
• Check they have tried off the shelf self help options, especially
mobile, satellite
• Wait for or campaign to get BDUK ‘superfast’ – this could also
improve ‘regular’ broadband a bit
• Encourage them to do their own thing

2. Existing self help options - mobile
• Mobile – a better aerial can pick up a
signal where a phone shows nothing
• My phone shows zero bars
• Mast about three miles away
• Antenna is many times better than in a
phone – much bigger
• ‘Poynting cross-polarised LTE antenna’
Buy it
• About an hour of DIY to fit this
antenna, drill two holes in the window
frame, silicon holes, connect to router
indoors.

3. Huawei B593 s22 4G/3G & 2G modem router
ee SIM
• Antenna leads screw into back - four bars out of five
• 15-20Mb/s down 10 Mb/s up
• 4G – absolutely transformative can now do video
Skype, Google Hangout, iPlayer, upload pics of kids
• Same kit works for 3G too
• Slightly weather dependent, occasionally
temperamental
• Antenna £70 Huawei router £150 (Amazon)
• http://shop.ruralbroadband.co.uk/
• MIPS – Arquiva/goverment scheme to bring mobile
to rural not spots- seems to be struggling but might
deliver

4. Mobile - WIBE
• Size of a large coffee jar
• Has four large antennas inside it
• Can pick up signals in zero-bar areas
• Provides WiFi and an Ethernet connection
• Can run off a car power supply
• Have one in your boot and mix of PAYG sims
• Neat and simple – 4G version in development
apparently (may already be for sale)
• http://www.deltenna.com/products/wibe.aspx
• This is an indoor one (ok if walls not thick)
outdoor versions too

5. Satellite
• New satellite technology – ‘Ka Band’ hugely improved
much higher download bandwidth
• Google for Too-Way, Eutelsat, resold by many
companies under own brand
• Available more or less anywhere, straight away
• Dish slightly bigger than Sky
• BUT satellite is still thousands of miles away and
round trip time makes them unresponsive.
• Still nearly impossible for modern two way services,
video skype, Hangout, online games, some web forms
• iPlayer, apple Tv work on a good day
• Upload is poor
• Can be expensive

6. How can I improve rural broadband for
communities I work with?
• Check they have tried off the shelf self help options, especially
mobile, satellite
• Wait for or campaign to get BDUK ‘superfast’ – this could also
improve ‘regular’ broadband a bit
• Encourage them to do their own thing

7. BDUK Superfast
• Huge central and local government procurement process to
bring 25Mb/s + to 95% of country
• Run at a county level in rural areas, sometimes neighbouring
councils together
• Money spent to maximise ‘number of homes passed’ for any
given investment. Not based on need.
• Most money so far has gone to BT
• Most rural 5% problematic in many areas – technology and
money, phone lines unlikely to work affordably
• Many consortia announcing in 2015 how they will get to 90-
95%
• Some excellent (Dartmoor, Exmoor), often v poor
communications
• Focus on ‘superfast’ – not just making broadband work in rural
areas
• High political priority post election, new Cabinet Taskforce on
digital infrastructure, new All-Parliamentary group of MPs
• If you are in the last 5% then your need to make your voice
heard

8. Campaign
4,000 metres from exchange high on the Chiltern
escarpment
Terrible phone infrastructure – whistles snap, crackle
and pops on the line
No DSL digital signal at all on new lines
BT quoted me £54,763.37 for a fibre at 10 Mb/s
Simple traditional campaign to get on the radar of the
local BDUK campaign. See Connect8.org
We built a community of people reached out to
County councillor
District councillor
Member of Parliament
Newspaper and BBC Radio
Use simple website to gather issues and make case

9. How can I improve rural broadband for
communities I work with?
• Check they have tried off the shelf self help options, especially
mobile, satellite
• Wait for or campaign to get BDUK ‘superfast’ – this could also
improve ‘regular’ broadband a bit
• Encourage them to do their own thing

10. Exploring our own route
Clapped out rural infrastructure
We wanted decent connectivity now – not superfast
Who else is there other than BT
Talking to alternative network providers
Google for ‘microwave broadband’
Microwave radio distribution – uses radio masts or tall
buildings – churches, military masts, local re
distribution via wifi
Small box on outside of house
We shall have to raise £10-20k from the community

11. Carnegie UK Trust and Plunkett Foundation report
on self-help and community campaigns as a way to
help last 5%
Carnegie UK Trust and Community Broadband
Network report on intermediaries – ‘going the last
mile how can we reach the final 10% draws heavily
on B4RN – remarkable project in Lancashire and
Cumbria, farmers laying fibre.
Resources for serious self help