Details

Abthorpe Broadband was started in 2003 to bring broadband Internet access to Abthorpe and Slapton. At that time, the prospect of getting those services over telephone lines seemed distant. However, it was easy to install a satellite link into the village at reasonable cost, provided this was shared between a number of users. A wireless distribution network was set up in the village to achieve that objective.

To make this economically attractive, a wireless network was installed so that several users could share the expensive satellite bandwidth. We initially hoped for 20 to 30 users, but the service proved very popular and we now have over 60. This has enabled us to provide broadband at less than one quarter of the cost of getting it individually.

And Abthorpe is not alone. Although we were among the first to adopt this technique, several other rural communities had the same ideas at that time and many more have followed since then.

Now the position has changed radically. ADSL, a technique of delivering broadband over the telephone lines, arrived in the village after a few years, although it still suffers limitations due to the distance between Abthorpe and the telephone exchange at Silverstone.

We have therefore moved from using a satellite feed into the village to using ADSL links. This will bring down the cost of usage even further and ensure that Abthorpe Broadband remains strongly competitive.

Abthorpe Broadband is organised as a co-operative. Subscribers are ‘members’ of the not-for-profit company which we have set up. All the work of setting up users equipment and maintaining the system is done on a voluntary basis.

Maintaining the system continues to require some effort. As Internet technology develops, we have to consider what improvements can be made. Faults do develop and have to be dealt with quickly.

Internet Connection
Our system is based on a number of shared ADSL connections to the Internet. ADSL is a technique for using the telephone lines to carry high speed data. Although BT provide the telephone lines, we have used a third party, Eclipse, to provide the ADSL service.  

Mail Service
Our Mail service is provided by Fasthosts. We can define unlimited e-mail addresses for our members, and mail can be collected either inside the Abthorpe network or from anywhere in the world.

Wireless Network
A wireless network is used within the villages to bring broadband to your homes. A  number of base stations have been installed to ensure that everyone can receive a good wireless signal.

Each user is equipped with a client wireless unit which links to one of the base stations. We use several different types, depending on the location of the users’ PCs and the type of PC. Trees, thick stone walls and adjacent houses all make obstacles to good reception of the wireless signals. PC specifications vary, especially with older ones. Typical client equipment falls into the following types :

[ Home ] [ Notice Board ] [ Parish Council ] [ News ] [ The Church ] [ Broadband ] [ Businesses ]