Gentlefolk,
I thought perhaps it's time for an update although those keenly interested could visit the web site b4rn.org.uk or join the Facebook page too.
https://www.facebook.com/B4RNorth/Their coverage area has "exploded" over large parts of mainly sparsely-populated rural Lancashire, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.
The original diverse-routed symmetric 1 gbps design was based upon 8 parishes but that has grown to over 50 since the services became live over the winter of 2011 / 12
The B4RN area overlaps around 25 BT exchange areas, but not inside the larger towns where mostly VDSL FTTCabinets are deployed.
There are now well over 2,000 live 1 Gbps services. Some extra properties have elected to have the fibre installed as an insurance policy; sometimes due to existing contract terms.
A coverage map can be found here:-
http://b4rn.org.uk/b4rn-service/coverage-area/but note much of the lighter green area to the east is just becoming live too. The lists below the map mention most of the villages but again the lists are in need of updating (when time permits !).
Earlier this year the B4RN network suffered an outage due to damage to the Zayo cable down to Manchester.
That was the trigger to engineer a (possibly unique ?) fully diverse route now planned to a second data-centre in Edinburgh.
Because B4RN is a community Interest Company all surplus cash can only be used for the benefit of the community so there are good reasons to maintain the network performance well ahead of other domestic Telco providers.
Higher capacity links including to content providers are being upgraded too.
It is quite possible that other disgruntled rural groups "over the border" might take advantage of the additional link too
.
Kind regards,
Walter
