Quickline Communications has provided 2,000 rural communities with fast and reliable broadband in just 12 months – helping to tackle the digital divide in access to the Internet.
The fast-growing rural internet service provider is rolling out a market-leading hybrid network, combining fibre and fixed wireless broadband to deliver “broadband for the better” to some of the country’s most remote places.
The 2,000 communities Quickline has provided a service to over the past year include:
- Levisham, in the North York Moors National Park, with fewer than 100 residents.
- The former mining village of Kinsley, near Wakefield in West Yorkshire.
- Hainton, located between Louth and Market Rasen in Lincolnshire, clustered around St Mary’s Church, dating back to the 11th
By providing residents and businesses in communities like this with fast and reliable broadband, Quickline is leading the way in tackling the disparity in internet access that leaves many countryside areas in the internet slow lane.
The imbalance between urban and rural broadband was highlighted in recent research conducted by data group Point Topic with the Financial Times.
It found that, while almost five million UK homes have more than three choices of ultrafast fibre broadband, 10 million households, predominantly in rural areas, do not have an option that meets the need for lightning-fast, reliable connections fit for the 21st Century.
Sean Royce, Quickline’s CEO, said: “This report highlights just how vital the work we’re doing at Quickline is. People shouldn’t be disadvantaged by choosing to live in countryside areas and deserve to have the same internet experience as those living in large towns and cities.
“Fast and reliable internet access has never been so important. We know that improved internet access unlocks a better quality of life for everyone. It supports skills, jobs, education and entertainment.
“Fast broadband means you can stream your favourite TV shows and films, enjoy online gaming, and video call your loved ones without disruption.
“That’s why we’re passionate about bringing fast and reliable broadband to left-behind communities, giving them the digital life they deserve.”