A HOUSING estate in Otley that usually suffers from poor internet signal will now be able to get an ‘ultra fast’ broadband service.

Talk Straight, a specialist internet service provider based in Ilkley, has successfully brought ultrafast broadband to Garnett Wharfe, a residential housing estate in Otley that has long suffered with poor internet access.

Undertaking one of the largest ever trials in the UK of the latest wireless mesh technology, Talk Straight were able to deliver speeds of up to 1,000mbps.

The residents now enjoy some of the fastest internet in the country.

Jennifer Aneyard, a resident on the Garnett Wharfe estate commented: “My daughter finally got to join in her online class today. She absolutely loved seeing her friends and she loved her online lesson.”

An unusual solution was required for this case because the estate’s roads had not been adopted, meaning fibre cables could not be installed. Wireless Mesh Technology however, does not rely on cables.

Talk Straight worked in close partnership with the local school, Prince Henry’s Grammar. The school’s spare internet capacity was used for the foundation of the wireless mesh network.

Devices were then placed strategically around the housing estate’s lamp posts to extend the mesh. This bounced the school’s excess internet between the devices, blanketing the estate in Ultrafast Wi-Fi. The residents now enjoy some of the fastest internet in the country.

Chris Rowbottom, Associate Headteacher of Prince Henry’s Grammar, said: “When we were approached by Talk Straight to take part in this project, it made perfect sense. We work hard to benefit our local community, not just through our work with families in school, but through everything we do, so helping local residents to have better wifi is very appropriate.

The project will benefit not just our students and families, but all residents who live in Garnett Wharfe – a fantastic result."

David Tindall, Chief Executive of Talk Straight is also a former student at the school so they felt it was 'particularly appropriate' to get involved.

This innovative networking solution has provided a bridge for a community that had been effectively isolated, allowing residents to resume work and children to join their classmates for online lessons.

The project plans to bring Gigabit broadband to other areas of Otley 'very soon' and further areas nationally.

Find out more, visit gwbroadband.org.uk.