Fast Broadband for Dedham  

Dedham Parish Council is exploring the scope for residents to enjoy improved broadband speeds. We have had discussions with two potential providers: 

County Broadband Ltd. (see  www.countybroadband.co.uk) and
Buzcom (see http://www.buzcom.net/fibrewifi.html) 

Both these companies operate in this region (County already provide a successful service in West Bergholt), and where they have coverage, offer subscribers the possibility of 20 mbps broadband, with even faster speeds available for those prepared to pay a little more.

How Does it Work?

Both companies base their offering on a signal which is fed via high-speed lines to a local transmitter and then relayed by line-of-sight signal to a transceiver mounted on the outside of the subscriber’s property.  The transceiver is relatively inconspicuous, being about 30 cm high and 10 cm wide.  It can be painted to merge with its surroundings, but those living in listed buildings would probably need to apply for listed building consent.  The receiver can easily be attached, for instance, to an external TV aerial support rod. 

Unlike the usual ADSL broadband that comes over the telephone line, the service is symmetrical, thus the same high speed may be achieved for uploads as well as downloads.

Will a Telephone Service be Offered?

By using “Voice over Internet” technology (VOIP) the potential exists to meet a subscriber’s telephony requirements via the Internet.  This raises the possibility of users dispensing with a landline, thereby saving the considerable cost of line rental. 

County Broadband currently does not offer a VOIP service, but this has been embraced by Buzcom, who offer VOIP as an optional “add on” to their fast broadband.

Clearly, there are a number of crucial factors to be carefully considered before users decide whether it is sensible to dispense with their landline.  For instance, if subscribers relinquish their landline they will have to rely on their mobile phone in the event of the mains failing at home or at the transmitter.  

How Much Will It Cost?

Both companies operate on the basis of an initial fee of about £140 (which covers the provision and installation of the transceiver) followed by a monthly charge for the service chosen.  Typically this is about £12.50 per month for a 20 mbps service, VOIP and faster speeds being available for a higher subscription. 

What Happens Now?

Our friends at Langham (who suffer a far worse Broadband service than we do in Dedham) are currently in discussion with Buzcom, and expect this company to offer a high-speed Broadband service to residents in January or February of 2012.  Dedham Parish Council is closely watching this project, since it will establish the veracity of Buzcom’s claims and the viability of the service that they provide.   We are also giving consideration to the crucial issue of potential locations for the local transmitter(s).

We expect to review the situation early next Spring, by which time Langham’s experience should provide a pointer to the way forward.

December 2011