Welcome to Fastershire
The Fastershire Broadband Project is a partnership between Herefordshire Council and Gloucestershire County Council to help bring superfast broadband to homes and businesses across the two counties.
We also offer a wide range of support and training to help communities do more online, to make sure that everyone can benefit from the opportunities that faster broadband brings.
Connecting a Community: Artspace Cinderford
Artspace Cinderford quickly went online to keep their community connected during the lockdown. Now, with all of Cinderford on the cusp of connecting to ultrafast fibre broadband, the community arts company can plan to support more people in more places for more of the time.
Understanding VoIP
Science journalist Toby Murcott explains the benefits of Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) and how it can offer users a cheaper alternative to the traditional telephone. If you have a fast and reliable internet connection, you can call any telephone number without using a traditional phone service. VoIP can even let you make calls from a computer or mobile device. Watch our short film to learn about the pros and cons of switching to VoIP.
Using 4G to get faster broadband in Fastershire
Toby Murcott visits a resident in rural Herefordshire to find out how he is living a 'normal internet life' thanks to 4G broadband and an external antenna.
Gigaclear tunnel new fibre network under historic steam railway
Internet service provider Gigaclear deployed specialist engineering to drill under the Dean Forest Railway in Hill Street Lydney. Fibre optic cables can now be "blown" through new ducting laid three meters underneath the historic volunteer-run railway. This complex engineering achievement has overcome a significant challenge in enabling Gigaclear to extend its network across the town and into other surrounding communities, including Viney Hill, Newerne, Tutnalls and Blakeney Hill. Watch our short video to see how they did it.
How to set up a Mesh Wi-Fi network.
Toby Murcott shows you how to set up a Mesh network to provide seamless Wi-Fi throughout your home.
Homes for Ukraine in Fastershire
As the war in Ukraine reaches its sixth month, a family in Fastershire has opened their home to three generations of Ukraine refugees. A Gigaclear ultra-fast fibre broadband connection allows Aloyna, Iryna and Danylo to stay in touch with loved ones back home in Zhytomyr. Alyona is also able to continue teaching her Ukrainian students to speak English.
Fastershire helps launch Gym Rush UK
Lockdown left Gitta Furgerson, a BA Cabin Crew worker, not knowing if she would have a job. Armed with a superfast broadband connection, Gitta drew on her passion for sport and the clothes that come with it to embark on a new business venture. Online, Gitta researched everything she needed to know about launching her own sportswear company. Today Gitta has connections with international suppliers and a website showcasing her exciting range of sportswear
FEP Supercharges Cinderford
When Antony Davies connected his computer to the internet in his new Cinderford home, he discovered he and many others had a mere 8-9 Mbs download speed. Antony teamed up with the Forest Economic Partnership (FEP) to show Fastershire that there was a need for gigabit broadband in Cinderford. FullFibre Ltd's successful bid to Fastershire's Community Grant Scheme and their ethos of supporting the whole community made them the perfect organisation to take on the challenge of bringing ultrafast connections to thousands of homes and businesses and make Cinderford one of the fastest towns in the UK.
Nordkapp or bust for St Michael's Hospice: with a little help from Fastershire
For Rob Edwards, faster broadband hass made a big difference in planning a once in a lifetime fundraising adventure. Watch this short film to learn how Rob is taking on his epic journey to raise funds for his much-loved charity, St Michael's Hospice.
Westonbirt Unseen
At Westonbirt, The National Arboretum, faster internet connections have enabled people with sight impairments to join the volunteer guide team and design a rich visitor experience for all.
How to use a mesh network to extend WiFi throughout your property
Toby Murcott explains how a mesh network can solve the problem of internet dead spots by strategically placing hubs throughout your home or office.
How to use powerline adapters to extend WiFi throughout your property
Toby Murcott explains how you can use powerline adaptors to help you connect to the internet in every room in your house and even the garden shed.
Understanding WiFi
Fastershire's science journalist friend Toby Murcott explains how powerline adapters and mesh networks can help you make the most of your internet.
Fastershire at Luctonians Sports Club
England's top rugby teams all need a bit of speed on the wing. And back in the clubhouse, the staff need to be just as fast when it comes to downloading documents, working in the cloud, allowing staff to work from home and uploading the last match videos. Alex Smith, Director of Operations at Luctonian Sports Club, explains how Fastershire and GigaClear are helping the club avoid post-match penalties.
Barton Court on a new course with help from Fastershire
Barton Court's business plan targeting the wedding market was pulled from under the feet of owners Linda and James when the pandemic struck. Sat in an empty, but magnificent building, refunding customers led the couple to look for alternative income streams. The potential offered by Barton Court's history and splendour needed one more ingredient, faster broadband. Fastershire helped unlock that potential by making fibre broadband a reality for the Herefordshire based business.
How the Full Fibre broadband rollout will change Hereford for decades to come.
While Fastershire is bringing the fastest broadband to rural areas in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, our friends at Zzoomm PLC are also building another of the UK's fastest and most resilient networks for the people of Hereford. We asked Matthew Hare, Founder and Chief Executive of Zzoomm, to give us a peep inside one of our city's fastest full fibre broadband cabinets and explain what full fibre is all about.
Holly Gittings: Changing lives with faster broadband
Since 2012, Fastershire has been rolling out faster broadband across Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. With superfast coverage across the two counties now at 95.81%, more people like Holly can work, shop, bank and watch the latest movies online. Faster broadband also allows Holly to provide new technology to help people live independently at ho
Fragile with Attitude' at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum
'Fragile with Attitude' is an exhibition of thought-provoking art inspired by and exhibited at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum. Six fantastic artists created works of art in response to 're-storying' Westonbirt's landscape through their own unique experiences. Led by Dr Sarah Bell at the University of Exeter in collaboration with Art Shape, Zoe Partington, Natural Inclusion and Westonbirt Arboretum, the exhibition encourages affirmative understandings of disability rooted in collective experience, strength and expertise. In April 2020, Fastershire joined the team involved with the project at a conference held at Westonbirt's Great Oak Hall to discover how the project evolved and how faster broadband helped keep the artists connected. To find out more about the project visit: https://www.forestryengland.uk/westonbirt/fragile-attitude-exhibition
Faster broadband for Don't Buy Her Flowers
The Business Broadband Grant Scheme is improving broadband connectivity for small and medium-sized enterprises across the Marches and Gloucestershire. This film shows how one company is using broadband to provide thoughtful gifts for anyone needing some TLC
Making the most of your internet: Broadband
One of the questions we are asked the most at Fastershire is what's the difference between broadband and Wi-Fi? In this short video, our science journalist friend Toby Murcott explains how understanding these two technologies can help you get faster internet.
Marches and Gloucestershire Broadband Grant
In partnership with Fastershire, Connecting Shropshire and Superfast Telford and part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Marches and Gloucestershire Broadband Grant provide SMEs with the necessary funding to install high speed broadband connectivity.
Fastershire Stage 3 Gigaclear - Network Build Process
Fastershire and Gigaclear are building a new Fibre to the Premise (FTTP) broadband netwrok across rural areas of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, and delivering broadband speeds of up to 1000Mbps.
Tiger Helicopters - Globally competitive with Fastershire
Fastershire has transformed the broadband services available for communities across Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. See how bringing the UK's fastest fibre network to rural Shobdon is enabling Tiger Helicopters to thrive in the globally competitive world of helicopter pilot and engineer training.
Dr Karilyn Collins: Connecting families and communities
Faster broadband is bringing the far-flung corners of the world to Bondenham in Herefordshire
Hopes of Longtown
With everyone having a 'shop' in their pocket Christine Hope, owner of Hopes of Longtown, explains how faster broadband is helping her award-winning store and post office to provide a wide range of services for the local community.
Yeleni Therapy & Fastershire
Fastershire's rollout of fibre broadband across Herefordshire and Gloucestershire has helped communities stay connected throughout the pandemic. For Hereford-based Yeleni Therapy & Support Complementary Health Centre & Charity), fibre networks and a grant from Fastershire's 'Keep Connected' scheme has helped the charity continue providing free support to people with cancer and their carers. Watch this short video to find out more about Yeleni and all the vital support they provide.
Elliot Evans | Staying connected with Fastershire
Elliott spent lockdown supporting the Midlands Air Ambulance with a virtual wheelchair fundraiser covering the distance between Land's End and John o' Groats and training for the St Michael's Hospice Half Marathon. A faster broadband connection helped Eliott keep in touch with his supporters and maintain his mental health and well-being.
'Get Online Week' with Wendy Haigh and Fastershire
It's national 'Get Online Week.' And it's our pleasure to introduce you to the delightful Wendy Haigh, whose sparkle and charisma is enough to encourage anyone thinking about stepping into the online world. To find out about all the Beginners courses available from Fastershire, visit: www.fastershire.com
Nick Nenadich, cricket, rugby The Royal Marsden and Fastershire
Bringing the fastest broadband to rural areas is revolutionising peoples lives. For Nick Nenadich, full fibre streams the latest cricket and ruby from around the world. While being entertained by his sporting heroes, Nick also continues receiving care for a progressive cancer illness through regular online consultations with The Royal Marsden. Also, to show his thanks for the outstanding care he received at St Michael's Hospice - Hereford, Nick used his ultra-fast internet connection to help raise over £20,000 for the charity and catch up with lifelong friends in the process. Find out how fast you can go at: www.fastershire.com
Ignite cic, 'Our Community Can' and faster broadband
Ignite cic works with people of all ages to provide creative and physical actives throughout Herefordshire. Their 'Our Community Can' project continued tackling isolation and loneliness throughout lockdown thanks to faster broadband.
How the Full Fibre broadband rollout will change Hereford for decades to come.
While Fastershire is bringing the fastest broadband to rural areas in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, our friends at Zzoomm PLC are also building another of the UK's fastest and most resilient networks for the people of Hereford.
Yoga with Suzanne Jevon-Hughston and Fastershire
When lockdown paused 25 years of yoga teaching, Suzanne Jevon-Hughston took her classes online. With Gigaclear putting an end to frozen screens, Suzanne began to cast trouble-free Zoom lessons to people at home and abroad.
Fastershire at Showle Court, a working dairy farm in Herefordshire
Excellent animal husbandry is as essential today as it has always been. But today's modern farm also needs access to up-to-date data and information. George Clay from Showle Court takes us behind the scenes of a modern dairy to show us the difference Fastershire and Air Band's full-fibre
Keep on running with Easy Garage and faster broadband
Faster broadband in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire helps small businesses like Easy Garge to work efficiently and provide the best possible service for their customers. See how fast your business can go at: www.fastershire.com
Sarinya Wood: Thai Conference and Court Interpreter
Herefordshire based Sarinya Wood is one of the UK's top Thai Conference and Court Interpreters. Watch how superfast broadband made it possible for her to continue working throughout the pandemic.
Our Stories
Anita Poole, Bishops Cleeve
Anita runs several divisions of her business, from promoting innovative nutritional supplements to offering online video tools & consultations / training in personal communications, appearance and body language.
Read moreFaster News
Up & coming events
Get to know your Tablet at Ross-on-Wye Library
Location: Ross-on-Wye Library, 7 Cantilupe Road, Ross-on-Wye HR9 7AN
When: February 6 @ 10:00 am
Up & coming events
Practical Soil Assessments that YOU can do on YOUR farm
Location:
Leadon Vale Farm, Crowfield Lane
Dymock,
Gloucestershire
GL18 2AE
When: February 9 @ 10:00 am
Up & coming events
Get to know your Tablet at Hereford Library
Location: Hereford Library, Broad Street, Hereford, HR4 9AU
When: February 20 @ 2:00 pm
Up & coming events
Location: Leominster Library, 8 The Buttercross, Leominster HR6 8BN
When: February 21 @ 10:30 am
Up & coming events
Get to know your Tablet at Ledbury Library
Location: Ledbury Library, The Master's House, Bye St, Ledbury HR8 1EA
When: February 24 @ 10:00 am
Up & coming events
Get to know your Smartphone at Ross-on-Wye Library
When: February 27 @ 10:00 am
Up & coming events
An introduction to the new SFI Soil Standards
Location:
Witcombe and Bentham Village Hall,
Witcombe,
Gloucestershire
GL3 4TB
United Kingdom
When: March 9 @ 2:00 pm