Airband Broadband
Government-backed rural broadband specialist serving communities that major providers have passed over. Fixed wireless and full fibre FTTP across rural Wales, South West England and the Midlands from approximately £33/month.
Airband is a UK broadband provider that specialises in connecting rural and hard to reach areas that the bigger names often overlook. Founded in 2009 in Worcestershire, the company is an altnet, meaning it builds, owns and operates its own network rather than reselling capacity on Openreach lines. Its coverage focuses on rural and semi rural parts of the South West, Wales and the West Midlands, along with counties such as Oxfordshire and Worcestershire, so availability is postcode specific and worth checking before you compare deals.
Airband delivers broadband in two ways. Where it has built full fibre, you get a fibre to the premises (FTTP) connection running straight into your home, with packages ranging from 40Mbps up to 900Mbps. In rural areas that full fibre has not yet reached, Airband offers fixed wireless access (FWA) instead, which means homes that would otherwise be stuck on slow copper lines can still get a modern connection today rather than waiting years for fibre to arrive.
Fixed wireless access works by beaming a broadband signal over the air from a local transmitter mast to a small antenna fitted to the outside of your property. There is no cable in the ground between you and the exchange, which is exactly why it suits remote locations where digging in fibre is slow or uneconomical. Performance depends on distance from the mast and a clear line of sight, but the technology is capable of serious speeds: Airband's fixed wireless packages go up to 1000Mbps, so a gigabit connection is possible without a fibre cable ever touching your house.
A few other things worth knowing. Airband typically asks for a 24 month contract, and because it runs its own network, installation and support are handled by the same company end to end. If you have six months or less left on your current contract, Airband will cover your exit fees when you switch. For many rural households, Airband is less about being the cheapest option and more about being the first provider to offer genuinely fast broadband at their address at all.
Airband broadband deals
| Plan | Avg speed | Contract | Upfront | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fibre 150 | 150Mbps | 24mo | £0.00 | £33.00 | See deal |
| Airspeed 40Airspeed 40 Deal | 40Mbps | 24mo | £0.00 | £24.00 | See deal |
| AirSpeed 150PopularAirspeed 150 Deal | 150Mbps | 24mo | £0.00 | £25.00 | See deal |
| Fibre 300 | 300Mbps | 24mo | £0.00 | £38.00 | See deal |
| AirSpeed 400AirSpeed 400 Offer | 400Mbps | 24mo | £0.00 | £25.00 | See deal |
| Fibre 600 | 600Mbps | 24mo | £0.00 | £48.00 | See deal |
| Fibre 900 | 900Mbps | 24mo | £0.00 | £58.00 | See deal |
| AirSpeed 1000AirSpeed 1000 Offer | 1000Mbps | 24mo | £0.00 | £26.00 | See deal |
Airband broadband contracts increase by £3/month each April, including mid-contract. Below is an example for a £33/month plan (their cheapest current deal):
This applies whether you're in or out of contract — always factor the Year 2 price into your comparison.
Airband — pros & cons
Residents in rural Wales, South West England or the Midlands who currently have slow ADSL or no decent broadband and are within one of Airband's BDUK contract areas.
Pros
- 🌍Serves genuinely rural areas with no other viable broadband option — exists specifically because commercial operators won't
- 📡Dual technology approach (FWA + FTTP) means wider coverage than pure-fibre altnets
- 🏛️Government-backed BDUK contracts provide funding stability and a mandate to serve the whole contract area
- 📞Phone line available on most plans — relevant for rural customers who may still depend on a landline
- 📅12-month contracts available on some plans — slightly more flexible than many altnets
Cons
- 📡Fixed wireless speeds are lower and less consistent than fibre — weather and line-of-sight can affect performance
- 💰Pricing slightly higher than urban equivalents for comparable speeds
- 📍Coverage limited to BDUK contract areas only
- 📺No TV bundle — broadband and phone only
Common questions about Airband
What areas does Airband serve?+
Airband serves rural communities in Wales, South West England and parts of the Midlands under BDUK government contracts. Check your postcode at airband.co.uk.
What is fixed wireless access (FWA)?+
Fixed wireless access delivers broadband via radio signals between a transmitter tower and a receiver on your property. Airband uses FWA where fibre trenching has not yet been completed, typically delivering 40–1000Mbps.
Does Airband hold government contracts?+
Yes. Airband holds multiple contracts under the BDUK (Building Digital UK) programme, the government initiative responsible for extending broadband to premises that cannot be served by the commercial market.
How does Airband compare to BT in rural areas?+
In many rural areas, BT's available technology is slow ADSL. Airband's fixed wireless entry plan starts at around 40Mbps, and its FTTP plans go up to approximately 1000Mb. A significant improvement over rural ADSL.
When will Airband reach my village?+
Airband's rollout progresses under BDUK contract timelines. You can register your interest at airband.co.uk to be notified when coverage reaches your postcode.
Airband coverage areas
Rural communities in Wales, South West England and parts of the Midlands under BDUK government contracts.
Airband reviews
Genuine ratings from Airband customers. Every review is checked before it appears.