Technical project · Uplink IT & Networks
Rural broadband upgraded from approximately 5 to 500 Mbps
A rural Staffordshire property moved from fixed-line broadband limited to approximately 5 Mbps to measured 5G download speeds of approximately 500 Mbps. With faster fibre unavailable, the upgrade provided high-speed internet without waiting for local fixed-line improvements. Four wired access points provide reliable Wi-Fi throughout the property.
- Approximately 500 Mbps download
- Measured on the current 5G connection, compared with approximately 5 Mbps on the previous fixed-line service.
- Approximately 25 Mbps upload
- Measured on the current mobile connection at this property.
- Four wired access points
- Wi-Fi coverage distributed throughout the large property.
High-speed internet without waiting for fibre
The property needed both a dependable internet connection and consistent Wi-Fi throughout the house.
Its BT service, delivered over the Openreach network, was limited by the distance from the street cabinet. Faster fibre was unavailable, so improving connectivity required an alternative internet service and a network capable of distributing it around the building.
Testing identified the strongest mobile connection
I tested available mobile networks and antenna configurations at the property before selecting replacement equipment.
Tests covered simple router antennas and external omnidirectional and directional options. An external directional antenna produced the strongest connection at this location.
Mobile broadband was introduced using 4G, then upgraded to 5G as local coverage and equipment improved. The current setup combines the directional antenna and 5G connection with a managed wired network and four Wi-Fi access points.
A network foundation that supported a decade of upgrades
I designed and installed the wired and multi-access-point Wi-Fi foundation more than ten years ago.
Four access points were positioned around the property and connected individually using outdoor-rated Cat6 Ethernet. The work included cable termination and network equipment configuration.
That foundation has remained reliable through successive upgrades to internet connections, access points and other equipment, without requiring the underlying network to be rebuilt.
Faster connectivity on an established network
The property gained high-speed internet despite the limitations of its local fixed-line service. The established wired network distributes the connection around the house and continues to support equipment upgrades.
These measurements relate to this particular location. Mobile signal, network demand, building construction and available services vary, so comparable performance cannot be guaranteed elsewhere without appropriate testing.
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