We talk to the founder and MD of North East rural broadband experts Alncom, Stephen Pinchen.
“When we say rural, we really mean rural and that can mean off-grid to homes and business in Northumberland and the North East. Where other companies will give up on the supply of fast broadband, we accept every challenge and that can literally mean jumping on to a quad bike or our fleet of 4×4’s or even walking to some really inaccessible areas and using drones to oversee the areas from every angle. We are privately owned and we love the North East community. 20 years of climbing the steepest hills and connecting the most isolated locations can be very rewarding and it keeps us fit!”, said Managing Director Stephen Pinchen.
“Fast broadband must be available to everyone who wants and needs it.”
From farmers, to whole villages and businesses, Alncom’s success stories have included the most remote valleys in Northumberland, from College Valley down to Durham and beyond with success stories with Northumbrian Water, Matfen Hall and the surrounding businesses and homes and companies in the North East.
Stephen Crees, the manager of College Valley Estates; a beautiful valley that lies within the Cheviot Hills in Northumberland within the Northumberland National Park, worked closely with his wife Catherine and Alncom, to encourage residents across the valley to join together and combine the value of government vouchers. Gigabit-capable broadband was installed along eight kilometres of the valley, with reliable wireless connections going live November 2019. There were no installation charges and 100% cheaper monthly costs, with an unlimited data allowance. WiFi calling means that estate workers can use their phones and everyone can access the emergency services if necessary.
Stephen’s wife Catherine Crees said “the new internet is brilliant, it is very fast and there is no difference if four or five people use it at once. I live in a large farmhouse with thick stone walls and it gets to quite a few rooms in the house. We don’t have a mobile phone signal here, so WiFi calling has saved us a fortune on our phone bills. Home schooling during lockdown would have been very difficult without it and I got the seal of approval from my children who can use the internet to maintain contact with friends and there is no longer any lag for my son when he is gaming”.
Based in Alnwick, the team cover the length and breadth of the North East. www.alncom.co.uk telephone 01665 604816 info@alncom.co.uk
