How Brunel's bridge is helping Gigaclear connect rural homes to 1Gb broadband
Some of the fastest broadband in the UK is heading to a few of the least connected areas
UK broadband provider Gigaclear is on a mission to connect rural towns and villages that otherwise can’t get access to high-speed internet.
As part of that campaign it is now using Bristol's 19th century Clifton Suspension Bridge - based on designs by Isambard Kingdom Brunel - to deliver speedy 1Gb broadband internet to otherwise disconnected rural villages.
The Gigaclear Fibre-to-the-Premises technology means some of the fastest internet in the world is available to some of the UK's most remote homes. Gigaclear claims that the broadband it supplies is 26 times faster than the national average.
The Clifton Suspension Bridge project is the first time a utilities provider has used the bridge since 1935, allowing Gigaclear to expand its footprint and meaning villages and towns in North Somerset will be able to experience the ultrafast broadband as early as September this year.
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While Gigaclear may have the speed, it doesn't yet have the coverage - focusing on servicing rural areas rather than larger swathes of the UK. But there are lots of other broadband providers to pick from and with factors like price, speed and connection to take into consideration, it can help to have some of the work done for you.
TechRadar has created some handy guides for you in the form of the best broadband deals here (or simply check out the comparison chart below). Or if you want to specifically go for pure speed then the best fibre broadband deals are listed here.
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Luke is a freelance writer and editor with over two decades of experience covering tech, science and health. Among many others he writes across Future titles covering health tech, software and apps, VPNs, TV, audio, smart home, antivirus, broadband, smartphones, cars and plenty more. He also likes to climb mountains, swim outside and contort his body into silly positions while breathing as calmly as possible.