Streatley residents Simon and Mandy Barter were victims of digital isolation thanks to their rural location and a badly executed installation.
Newly-retired Simon and Mandy, who works in the charity sector, were forced to leave home whenever they wanted to access a reliable connection.
Their incoming full fibre service was directly connected to their router, but as Simon said: “Initially, when it worked, it was amazing, providing fast and reliable internet speeds.
“However it became unreliable and when it did not work, it was just a nightmare of extremes.”
The couple had repeated back-and-forth communication with their provider, but never got any real answers as to why their fibre would keep cutting out.
Simon explained: “We live on a single track lane in a very rural location, and the fibre cables were dug into the earthen banks of the lane when first installed back in 2017.
“Unfortunately, they were neither installed deep enough nor in any trunking.”
The poorly executed installation led to the Barters facing frequent disruptions with the cables becoming degraded and also easily damaged or severed.
They were not the only ones left digitally isolated, as neighbours are had to deal with frequent interruptions to their services.
Simon discovered alternative broadband specialists National Broadband, and, having noted its Trustpilot rating and reviews, he decided to get in contact.
The company installed its 4G-based broadband solution at the Barters’ home and happily, this transformed the speeds and reliability of the household’s internet connection.
The couple are now able to benefit from fast and reliable broadband which they need to live their day-to-day internet lives.
Simon added: “Living in rural parts of the UK has its ups and downs, but having reliable broadband is so important.
“Mandy and I were simply unable to connect reliably to the internet, so we were both forced to travel to get to work online.
It is not just the Barters that face such problems.
According to Ofcom’s latest figures, more than 450,000 premises across the UK are still left with no access to the national minimum standard broadband speeds of 10 Mbps via a fixed-line.
David Hennell, Director at National Broadband, said: “The digital isolation that Simon and Mandy experienced typifies the struggles that all too many rural households and businesses face when it comes to being able to access fast and reliable broadband.
“It also clearly highlights the urgent need for alternative solutions to bridge the digital divide. Our mission has always been to address this disparity and to empower both individuals and communities with fast and reliable broadband access.
“We know that there is a need to bring reliable broadband to all corners of the UK, ensuring that no one is left without the vital connectivity they both deserve and require in today’s society.”
