Walney Island residents are now connected to a wireless technology that can deliver broadband speeds of up to one gigabit.

Designed by rural broadband specialist Voneus in partnership with Cambium Networks, the project has been the largest 60 GHz cnWave network in Europe, supported by the Westmorland and Furness Council.

The technology, delivered just eight weeks from the start of its network build, specifically caters to hard-to-reach regions typically left out of broadband strategies, ensuring fast and reliable broadband via durable millimeter-wave technology.

The technology uses existing lighting poles for signal transmission, thereby avoiding road excavations and consequent blockades.

One of the first to enjoy the broadband is Colin Grosvenor, an IT engineer for the NHS.

He said: "It's important to me to have good broadband speeds in order to make sure I can do my work for the NHS from home.

"The speeds I was getting with my previous supplier were terribly slow, but with Voneus they are incredible."

Christopher Traggio, chief executive officer of Voneus, said: “This has been an exciting week for Voneus customers on Walney Island, as the first customers get connected to the new gigabit speed network after just a few weeks of works.

“Just thrilling to see so many residents join the switch to better broadband.”

Dan McCarthy, regional sales manager of Cambium Networks UK, Ireland & Nordics, said: "Walney Island is experiencing the fastest rollout in terms of homes passed ever seen anywhere and it’s certainly going to be the largest cnWave network in Europe very, very soon.

"This deployment will eventually make ultrafast broadband available to more than 10,000 residents which will make it the largest cnWave deployment in the world."

Morgan Kurk, president and chief executive officer of Cambium Networks, said: “Cambium is providing an increased number of gigabit solutions, including full technology stack, required to build complete networks to support use cases, across both indoor and outdoor environments.

“We are proud to partner with Voneus to improve connectivity for the residents of Walney Island.”