27 September 2012 - Cambium Networks and Herefordshire-based allpay Broadband have been recognised by the NextGen Challenge Awards, for their commitment to delivering broadband to rural communities across the Diocese of Hereford using Church spires. Working collaboratively, the two companies have been named as a finalist for the ‘Rural leadership and community development’ category, after completing an innovative project that married the Medieval with the 21st century.

The project involved the creation of an unlikely but unique and pioneering partnership with the Diocese of Hereford, and saw the initiation of an innovative Common Licence scheme, that would enable antennae hardware to be fitted onto church towers across the entire region. With the support of the Chancellor of the Diocese and a forward-thinking approach, the Licence, which was launched in January 2011, created a streamlined planning and application process for every church in the area.

“Both residents and business owners across Herefordshire can now access a super-fast, highly reliable internet service that connects them to the rest of the world and has the potential to improve innovations and the environment, help businesses and even enhance social cohesions. When a community comes together like this, it shows what can be achieved if you have the desire to make it happen and the right technology. Cambium Networks Point to Multi Point technologies are being used to deliver super-fast broadband in and around Hereford today,” comments Graham Bolton, Regional Sales Manager at Cambium Networks.

This was the first ever installation of its kind in the UK and has provided access to over 400 churches and thousands of residents throughout the Diocese of Hereford. Since the launch, over 100 churches in Herefordshire have already registered their interest in the solution and currently there are already 17 access points covering 13 villages.

Entrepreneur, and owner of allpay Limited, Tony Killeen, comments:
“When allpay recognised the desperation from businesses and individuals across the County to access fast and reliable internet, we knew it was going to be a challenge. Our partnership with the Diocese of Hereford is very much an example of the Big Society in action, with two local organisations coming together to help tackle a problem facing thousands of people living in our local communities.”

He continued: “The use of Cambium’s technology has been crucial to allpay Broadband’s progress and development. It has meant we’ve been able to tackle the problem face on and roll out our wireless service to areas that other broadband providers have not been able to reach and bring Herefordshire back up to speed.”

The NextGen Challenge is the UK’s annual competition for broadband network innovation and was open to all project and community leaders and suppliers who were able to demonstrate the best in next generation digital infrastructure. The awards evening will take place during the NextGen12 conference at the House of Commons Member’s Dining Room, London on 8 October 2012.

For more information, please visit http://www.nextgenevents.co.uk/, or to view customer testimonials please go to www.allpaybroadband.com/testimonials.