When dial-up modems were the common way to connect to the internet, the world had a carrot dangled in front of its nose: DSL – Internet that was potentially at least ten times faster than dial-up! Of course, many wanted it but many individuals and businesses found that they couldn’t receive it, either due to poor quality or long telephone lines, inadequate connections or simply because the telephone exchange wasn’t ‘Broadband Enabled’.

British Telecom announced a list of telephone exchanges that would NEVER be converted to aDSL (broadband) which were mostly sub-exchanges in low populus remote communities.

One of the people affected was Michael Whitley, who owned a small business in Langtoft – a village in rural East Yorkshire. Langtoft was one of many places that would not be ‘enabled’ and slow modems or expensive ISDN connections would be his only option in getting the business online.

But help was on the horizon; enter Business Insight. This organisation had been created to investigate the very real disadvantage that the lack of internet access created for rurally-based businesses. Research was undertaken on their behalf and many a phone call and questionnaire answered. After 6 months an Aramiska satellite internet connection arrived for evaluation as a possible solution.

So the problem was fixed, but could the system be used to provide the entire village with broadband. Some research was done (on the internet of course) and a system called LocustWorld Mesh was found. Martyn Boswell, a skilled IT Professional was recruited to research and implement the technology.

A pilot project was set up using two scratch built wireless nodes and a 100 meter wireless link between Michael’s base and his brother’s house.

Success! The link worked perfectly. It wasn’t very long before a six-user mesh network was established, unfortunately lack of funds stopped the system being extended to other Langtoft residents.

However, contact was made with the Rural Broadband Initiative at Yorkshire Forward and a grant was obtained to build a community-wide mesh network. This was completed successfully in Langtoft, and shortly after extended to the nearby village of Butterwick. And so it was that ‘Langtoft.net’ was born.

During the time that the Langtoft network was being installed the team were approached to assist on a nearby network by another LocustWorld mesh installer. This completed successfully, Langoft.Net were then asked to participate on a much larger 100+ user network project. It was during this project that the main contractor ceased trading, and Langtoft.net took over and completed the network under their own steam.

More networks followed, and in May 2006, Langtoft.Net became LN Communications Ltd.

Today we manage and maintain fourteen different networks with a total of over 500 subscribers and wireless links operating over distances in excess of six miles and covering areas in excess of 240 square kilometres.

The team presently comprises: Martyn Boswell, Technical director, Richard Allison, Technical helpdesk and first line contact and Field Engineers Mark Thomas and Arron Hartley.

LN Communications are going from strength to strength – whatever your needs, contact LNC.

Wireless Broadband Anywhere.