North Devon Campsite has high speed internet following a fiber optic broadband connection

A campsite that has struggled with poor internet speeds for decades is now connected by super-fast fiber optic cable. The Lethbridge family, who have owned Damage Barton in Woolacombe since 1962, struggled with speeds of less than 1Mbps until last year, but they say their gigabit-capable connection from Airband has “changed” the way they business at the 600-acre campground and Ranch.

Airband’s build of full fiber to Woolacombe, on behalf of Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS), has enabled the fiber network to extend to Damage Barton, now benefiting from speeds of 250Mbps.

Helen Lethbridge, one of the firelighters and owner of Damage Barton Caravan and Camping Site, said: “Whatever business you are running, you must have a good internet connection. Nowadays everything is online, so updating our accounts, payroll and reservations online becomes impossible when we have speeds below 1Mbps.

“Airband came along and it changed it. It has brought us up to date. We are now fast enough to run our business with ease. Our online booking system is more reliable and customers get a good connection across the entire site, whether they are in a tent at the end of the site or in the largest motorhome right next to the counter receptionist. Good connectivity improves the overall customer experience throughout their stay.”

Airband worked closely with Helen and her family, who dug their own trenches on their land before Airband’s engineering team installed the conduit and cable, which not only serves the office and farm but also 200 turf fields on site.

Tony Watkins, sales lead at Airband, said: “Providing the service to Woolacombe as part of our CDS roll-out means any remote business has the opportunity to get connected . With a little engineering effort, we were able to make it happen – including at Damage Barton.

“The appeal of having a location as beautiful as the North Devon coast is the scenery, the countryside, the surfing and the chance to get away from it all. But at the same time, people still want to be able to connect to the Internet, no matter where they are or what they’re doing. Trip Advisor and wi-fi can make or break a business, so being able to provide a good connection means you’ll have many happy customers at the end of the day.”

Councilor Rufus Gilbert, CDS councilor and Devon County Council cabinet member for economic recovery and skills, said: “Tourism is a vital part of our regional economy My visitors and I want to have the best experience possible while they are here. These days, good connectivity is expected wherever you are and I’m delighted that the roll-out of CDS is making it possible for businesses like Damage Barton to benefit from better broadband. It’s encouraging to hear the difference it makes for them.”

Karl Tucker, chair of Heart of the South West LEP, said: “We are delighted to see the tangible impact the CDS program has had on communities across our region. Success story by the Lethbridge family and Damage Barton Caravan and Camping Site is a perfect example of how superfast broadband can truly transform businesses. Reliable Internet connectivity has become essential in the digital age today and we’re proud to help bridge the digital divide and drive economic growth across the Southwest Hub. We look forward to helping support more individuals and organizations, as they I continue to build a prosperous and well-connected future for my community.”

CDS has delivered superfast access to more homes and businesses than any other broadband scheme in the UK, with more than 320,000 premises gaining access to superfast broadband thanks to CDS’s direct investment. Future build dates can be found on Airband’s website.