Broadband campaign for Martin, Damerham, Rockbourne and Whitsbury

Broadband options for Martin, Damerham, Rockbourne and Whitsbury 

This page considers all of the ways in which the Martin and Rockbourne exchanges might get broadband. (The Rockbourne exchange also serves Damerham and Whitsbury.)

ADSL from British Telecom

In many ways it would be ideal if we could get British Telecom broadband, using ADSL. BT has a system where it sets a trigger levels for exchanges that may get upgraded in the future. People on that exchange can then register interest on the BT website and once the trigger level is reached, the exchange is scheduled to be upgraded. Unfortunately the Martin and Rockbourne exchanges do not currently even have a trigger level. 150 is the lowest trigger level that BT has set for any exchange so far. Since Martin has only about 160 homes, it is pretty unlikely that such a trigger level could be reached in the foreseeable future. The situation is not much better for the Rockbourne exchange which serves only about 400 homes.

ADSL from another provider

BT is obliged to grant access to other telecoms companies to install their equipment in BT exchanges. So far this has only really happened in the cities but in theory, if we could demonstrate that there is enough demand, we might interest an alternative provider to do this.

Satellite broadband

Anyone can get broadband, right now, no matter where they are. There are a number of companies that will sell you an internet connection, where the data from the internet comes from a satellite, via a dish and a special modem, and the data from your computer back to the internet goes back via the satellite or through a normal phone line.

Wireless (WiFi)

This is very low power wireless technology - the kind of thing you might have in your own home if you want to connect computer equipment together without using wires. Since it has a range of up to 400 metres, it would also be possible to create a local wireless network in each village. A number of communities have already created their own networks in this way, like the Eden valley in Cumbria.

As long as there is a fast internet connection somewhere on the community network, everyone on the network can share it. This could be the school's connection, or a satellite broadband service, or a leased line that the villages bought for their own use.

Power lines

Scottish and Southern have been conducting trials delivering broadband through power lines recently and this is due to be rolled out across the region soon. This may also be an option for us.