Broadband networks

Broadband connections in Upper Tone vary widely, due to improvements from new service roll-outs but also failures with previous contracts awarded by Connecting Devon and Somerset. This has left some areas with ultrafast full-fibre networks provided by Airband, Gigaclear, Openreach or Technological. Others have superfast broadband with fibre to roadside cabinets. And some areas are still left with slow copper wire connections from local exchanges all the way to their properties.

This page provides details of current services in Wiveliscombe and Upper Tone parishes, links to register interest in full-fibre broadband as networks expand, and information on alternatives, including for wireless broadband on mobile networks. …

Broadband networks in Upper Tone

For current broadband and mobile service availability, enter your postcode at Ofcom’s checker.

The parish and town listing below summarises broadband provision in Upper Tone and recommendations for registering interest for full-fibre broadband in future.

The best hopes for new full-fibre broadband connections in Upper Tone now rest with Openreach and Technological.

Openreach have been slowly expanding their full-fibre networks in the area, but may not provide connections to some until 2032 and may not cover harder to reach properties.

Technological are a small local company who have done a good job in expanding their full-fibre network in more rural areas, including Exmoor. They are currently expanding their network in Ashbrittle, Bathealton and Stawley parishes, and aim to cover harder to reach properties where possible too.

Ashbrittle, Bathealton and Stawley

Register interest with Technological who started to build their full-fibre network in these parishes from 2025, with work to expand further still continuing.

Bradford on Tone

Partly served by superfast network installed by Openreach
Those in other parts of Bradford on Tone should register interest with Openreach

Chipstable

Mostly served by a full-fibre network installed by Technological and in some areas by Openreach
Those in other parts of Chipstable should register interest with Technological and Openreach

Fitzhead

Mostly served by full-fibre networks installed by Airband and Openreach
Those in other parts of Fitzhead should register interest with Airband and Openreach

Halse

Mostly served by superfast network installed by Openreach
Those in other parts of Halse should register interest with Openreach

Langford Budville

Partly served by full-fibre network installed by Openreach
Those in other parts of Langford Budville should register interest with Openreach

Milverton

Mostly served by superfast network installed by Openreach
Those in other parts of Milverton should register interest with Openreach

Nynehead

Partly served by superfast network installed by Openreach
Those in other parts of Nynehead should register interest with Openreach

Oake

Partly served by superfast and full-fibre networks installed by Openreach
Those in other parts of Oake should register interest with Openreach

Sampford Arundel and Wellington Without

Partly served by full-fibre networks installed by Gigaclear or Openreach
Those in other parts of Sampford Arundel or Wellington Without should register interest with Openreach

Wiveliscombe

Central areas served by superfast network installed by Openreach
Langley Marsh to Croford and Spring Grove served by full-fibre network installed by Gigaclear
Those in other parts of Wiveliscombe should register interest with Openreach

OPEN ACCESS: All networks should allow open-access to other Internet Service Providers, although currently only Gigaclear and Technological provide services on their networks. Other service providers can be used on Openreach networks.

Alternative broadband options

Mobile or wireless 4G broadband can be provided in some areas lacking a reasonable broadband service, with a number of providers including Airband, EE, 02, Three and Vodaphone. Some use this as an interim option until full fibre broadband is available. It can be important to ensure you have a sufficiently strong mobile signal – check local coverage of mobile networks at Ofcom’s availability checker.

Some households use the Starlink satellite broadband service, although this is expensive. Starlink offers fast speeds but has some restrictions compared to a full-fibre connection.

Universal Service Obligation

The universal service obligation is intended as a safety net to allow requests for improved broadband by those with very slow internet connections (below 10 Megabits per second). There is nothing to pay if the cost of building or upgrading your share of a network connection is £3,400 or less, but, if it’s more, you have to pay the excess cost above £3,400. The costs can be a lot more for connections in rural areas, so few follow up once the costs are confirmed. Guidance is provided by Ofgem – see: Your right to request a decent broadband service.

A RECENT HISTORY OF BROADBAND PROGRAMMES IN UPPER TONE

Connecting Devon and Somerset

Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) is a government-funded agency which delivered programmes for superfast broadband (30 Mbps or higher). They awarded a contract to Gigaclear in 2016 to roll-out full fibre broadband in the western part of Somerset including Upper Tone. This contract failed to make sufficient progress and was terminated in 2019. At the end of 2020, CDS awarded a new contract to Airband to install full-fibre broadband in phases from 2021 to 2024 in the former Somerset West and Taunton area including Upper Tone.

From 2019 to early 2021, when there was no CDS contract in place, a government-funded voucher scheme was available to install full fibre broadband in rural areas. This was used by Technological to build a network covering parts of mid-Devon, Exmoor and Upper Tone. In addition, Openreach were funded by CDS to provide networks in some isolated areas. Openreach installed new full-fibre connections in a few other areas too, notably building second networks in parts of Chipstable and Fitzhead, which were already served by Technological or Airband.

On 31 October 2024, CDS announced they were scaling back Airband’s contract, which was running well behind schedule. The only Airband network to be completed in Upper Tone is a cluster that includes Fitzhead (C12 on map below).

Other clusters in Upper Tone were ‘descoped’ from the Airband contract, including Ashbrittle, Bathealton and Stawley, and parts of Bradford on Tone, Halse, Langford Budville, outskirts of Milverton including Preston Bowyer, Nynehead, Oake, Sampford Arundel, Wellington Without and outer parts of Wiveliscombe (including Coles Terrace, Culverhead, Nordens Meadow and West Road).

Possibilities for descoped areas

For areas descoped from the Airband contract, the best prospect in some areas for full-fibre broadband has been through the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. New vouchers may only be issued up to March 2027. I have pushed for Somerset Council to request that this scheme be extended by the government for longer.

Technological (see below) announced an expansion of their network using the voucher scheme from 2025 to the parishes of Ashbrittle, Bathealton and parts of Stawley, including Appley and Kittisford.

Another option that applies to most households without fibre broadband is to be added to a national framework contract with Openreach managed by Building Digital UK. Local announcements have been made but without details on coverage or timing. New connections through this contract may not be made until 2030 or even 2032 in Somerset.

Airband – legacy cluster

Following the scaling back of their CDS contract (covered above), Airband will now only complete and support a full-fibre cluster in the Fitzhead area in Upper Tone.

Gigaclear – legacy networks

As a legacy from their terminated CDS contract, Gigaclear completed a small full-fibre network, serving a linear path from Langley Marsh through Croford to Spring Grove on the outskirts of Wiveliscombe. This went live at the end of 2021 and most of those on this network can now arrange a connection. Similarly, Gigaclear have a small legacy network serving parts of Sampford Arundel and Wellington Without. To place an order or register your interest for these visit Gigaclear and start by checking availability using your postcode.

Technological – Brendon Hills and beyond

Most progress in rolling out full-fibre broadband in our area has been made by Technological. This local company starting building a full fibre network from Shillingford in 2019 that then extended to Exmoor, including the local parishes of Skilgate, Upton, Huish Champflower, and Clatworthy.

Technological’s network has been funded by the rural Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. They expanded their network further to the parish of Chipstable and from 2025 to the parishes of Ashbrittle, Bathealton and Stawley (including Appley and Kittisford), where they have made further good progress.

Technological’s live network and planned build is shown below.

Openreach – more full fibre in time

Some areas are already served by fibre to their local cabinet in the road, although not yet with full fibre on to homes and businesses. This includes most of Bradford-on-Tone, Halse, Milverton, Oake and Wiveliscombe and parts of Chipstable and Fitzhead. Fibre to the cabinet provides Superfast broadband which is fast enough for most current needs.

Following a change in Ofcom price cap rules on connection costs, Openreach announced plans in 2021 to upgrade telephone exchanges and extend full fibre broadband to 20 million premises, including hard to serve communities in the South West. Exchanges in the Wellington area and Wiveliscombe have been due to be covered by the end of 2026. On 28 May 2024, Openreach announced that the Milverton exchange had been added to their programme, which is now to cover 25 million homes and businesses by the end of 2026.

Openreach’s build plans are shown on the map below, which can also be viewed on a larger downloadable PDF.

These future builds are most likely to upgrade those who already have Superfast broadband (fibre to roadside cabinet) to full-fibre Ultrafast broadband (fibre to the property). They may not provide full-fibre connections to those currently without Superfast broadband, who still have slow wire connections all the way to their exchange.