First Gigabit Wireless customers lit up on Walney Island in record time
From build to first LIVE customers in just 8 weeks
1st August 2024In just 8 weeks from the start of works, the first Walney Island residents have been connected to a ground-breaking wireless technology, capable of delivering broadband speeds of up to 1 gigabit.
The network was designed and built by rural broadband specialists Voneus, who partnered with Cambium Networks. The project was only possible with the support of Westmorland and Furness Council, and is Cambium’s largest 60 GHz cnWave network in Europe.
Voneus are specialists in bringing ultrafast connectivity to hard-to-reach communities that are often left out of broadband network plans. The new network will deliver fast, reliable broadband by leveraging robust millimeter-wave technology.
Gigabit wireless technology uses existing lighting poles to carry the signal from point to point, and therefore avoids digging up roads and blocking streets with road closures.
One of the first to enjoy this game-changing broadband technology was Walney resident Colin Grosvenor, an IT engineer for the NHS.
Colin said: “It’s important to me to have good broadband speeds in order to make sure I can do my work for the NHS from home. The speeds I was getting with my previous supplier were terribly slow, but with Voneus they are incredible.”
In partnership with local authority Westmoreland and Furness Council, Voneus selected street lighting columns to deploy the network which is capable of delivering up to 1 gigabit speeds both upload and download.
Christopher Traggio, Voneus CEO, said, “This has been an exciting week for Voneus customers on Walney Island, as the first customers get connected to the new gigabit speed network after just a few weeks of works. Just thrilling to see so many residents join the switch to better broadband.”
Cambium Networks UK, Ireland & Nordics Regional Sales Manager, Dan McCarthy, said, “Walney Island is experiencing the fastest rollout in terms of homes passed ever seen anywhere and it’s certainly going to be the largest cnWave network in Europe very, very soon. This deployment will eventually make ultrafast broadband available to more than 10,000 residents which will make it the largest cnWave deployment in the world.”
Cambium Networks President and CEO, Morgan Kurk, said, “Cambium is providing an increased number of gigabit solutions, including full technology stack, required to build complete networks to support use cases, across both indoor and outdoor environments. We are proud to partner with Voneus to improve connectivity for the residents of Walney Island.”
Voneus is working closely with the community on Walney Island, and to date has supported the North Scale Community Centre, Walney FC, Walney School and the Roundhouse Café.
Voneus is currently offering 250Mbps for £29.99 per month and 900Mbps for £59.99 per month.