When a lack of broadband threatened to leave a state-of-the-art fossil museum on Dorset’s Jurassic Coast stuck in the Stone Age, Voip Unlimited came to the rescue and launched our Airwave product.

The Kimmeridge Trust, the charity that built the multi-million pound Etches Collection in the isolated village of Kimmeridge, had feared it wouldn’t be able to reach out to fossil-enthusiasts around the world due to poor quality broadband connection. Along with residents in the area, they pulled together to get the attention of a provider who was willing to take on the challenge.

The picturesque village was too small to justify the attention of a larger commercial investment and so the area was counting on an independent company willing and capable of tackling the challenge themselves. Voip Unlimited were approached, renowned for completing similar projects only our network and reputation for innovative installs could handle.

Our engineers created an innovative wireless network design by utilising Portland Harbour which had a direct (25km) line of sight to one of the highest points in Kimmeridge. They then ran 2km of fibre across Portland, connecting this to a licensed microwave link which spans the bay to a newly installed mast. The team established the link and started sending superfast broadband connectivity services over the huge 25km 1Gb wireless redundant link.

About the Award

The Extra Mile award goes to a provider that stepped in and made some people seriously happy when no one else would. It needn’t be an act of pure philanthropy – broadband providers are businesses after all – but it might occupy that zone where commercial interests and public relations meet.

In the world of broadband, that means bringing broadband to those who don’t have it, and wouldn’t otherwise get it.