Are there any business wireless broadband suppliers?

[alanterrill]

I'm an IT manager for a charity which has its main site in an area with a poor line to the nearest BT exchange (Shrewsbury). We can't get more than 300k and this is proving restricting as we now have two sites (15 miles apart) and use a VPN with a terminal server so that users at the second site can use the databases at the main site. We are a charity and so cannot afford the leased line option which even then would only give us 1Mb or less. Are there any companies offering wireless broadband that would be adequate and secure enough to run our business on. Searching for Wireless only brings up services for mobile users - I want a wireless solution for a VPN between sites. Are there any?

[Admin]

Hi there,

What is your postcode at the site in question?

thanks
Admin

Sy3 8hs

[alanterrill]

My postcode is SY3 8HS

[Admin]

Hi there

Thanks for the postcode.. unfortunately I cannot find any providers except mobile broadband which you say is not suitable in this case.

I suggest that you go for BT's new Accelerator service where they send an engineer round for £90 and if they cannot increase your speed by at least 0.5Mbps then they give you your money back. Full details at http://secureorder.bt.com/internetse...t/accelerator/

If none of this is suitable then you are off into leased lines or installing microwave access between the two sites, but you are heading off into the orbit in terms of cost.

Thanks
Admin

[alanterrill]

Thanks for trying. Bt's accelerator service is only for BT Total Broadband customers (I'm with Pipex) and looks like a home only service -it talks of looking at your home computer and home network- no mention of business premises.
I had a mailshot from Easynet today promising all sort of exciting technologies that would give a boost to those with poor internet speeds. I phoned them and once I gave the postcode they said 'oh- we don't have any equipment in that exchange, we can't offer you anything'. Considering it was personally addressed to me at my work address, that was a poorly targeted mailshot!
Is there any known way of getting BT to route your line to a different exchange? We're about four miles from our exchange in central Shrewsbury, but there's a much nearer one about a mile away that is also broadband enabled, but I can't find anyone who knows how to achieve it.

BT will switch you onto a different hub if they have a spot available but they may charge a fee for it (normally about £100-£150 depending on how nice the sales rep is) If you call their horrible customer services and explain your situation they will forward you to the right department. I hope that helps!

[alanterrill]

If only! I've spent a long time talking to various BT people about connecting to a different exchange or getting a better line installed but they just refuse to talk about it. Its not a matter of cost they just say its not possible, full stop. The frustrating thing is , a new building right next door has got 2Mb broadband by virtue of having had BT lay a new cable to the building. But they won't do it for us unless our existing cable goes faulty. All they'll do is offer us different packages such as a leased fibre between buildings at a mere £17,00 a year!