RNLI crew digs way to fibre connection

A Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) team in Humberside could have better use of VoIP solutions and access faster broadband speeds by digging its way to a fibre network.

The Spurn Point crew has decided to avoid the expenses associated with connecting to high-speed fibre optic networks by enlisting community help to dig trenches itself in a bid to access connection speeds of 100 megabits per second.

Fibre cables will be installed in the newly-dug trenches and local provider Fibrestream will help set up the connection with the help of a collection of local partners.

Dave Steenvoorden, superintendent coxswain of the boat at Spurn Point RNLI, told the Yorkshire Post: "It's the children of the families which really suffer [with slow broadband], especially as the young are so internet-savvy. They're taking five minutes to download a picture from their friends."

The government is considering technology such as wireless and satellite networks to deliver broadband in remote communities as laying cables is often the most expensive option.