A pioneering initiative to improve rural broadband using church towers to beam high-speed wireless internet has appointed a new chief executive.
Steve Maine has joined broadband provider WiSpire after management roles at BT, Kingston Commun-ications and mobile service provider Solaris Mobile.
The company, which was launched four years ago by the Diocese of Norwich, recently announced a bold commercial deal with community media publisher Archant, publisher of the EDP.
The move will see Archant providing WiSpire with investment, infrastructure support, commercial strategies and marketing services in a bid to boost the internet provider's reach across Norfolk and the rest of the UK.
WiSpire tackles slow internet speeds to eradicate 'not spots' which are holding back business and internet users across Norfolk and north Suffolk.
Mr Maine said: 'Non-availability of broadband will become more and more important, especially in relatively rural counties such as Norfolk.
'There is a significant opportunity to meet that demand with wireless technology and I think WiSpire's network of church towers, with the backing of the church and of Archant, creates a really substantial platform for growth into this market.'
Simon Bax, chairman of Archant and of WiSpire, said: 'Archant and the diocese together have great ambition for WiSpire and we are delighted to have secured the services of such a talented and experienced senior executive.
'Steve has the ability and drive to turn the vision for the venture into a reality and lead the company into a significant growth phase.'
Have you got a business story for the EDP? Email sabah.meddings@archant.co.uk
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