Radio Plus hits the airwaves at ultra-fast internet speeds

A community radio station in Coventry is now hitting the airwaves at ultra-fast internet speeds after connecting to the Coventry network.

Radio Plus has become the latest organisation to connect to the Coventry CORE, the gigabit speed fibre network that is rapidly upgrading the capabilities of businesses throughout the city. The station, which broadcasts 24/7 to over 13,000 listeners, says the connection is already transforming operations from its city centre base in Hertford Place. Radio Plus moved there in 2013 with the aim of maximising the 8,000 sq ft space by creating a hub for small independent businesses to be housed alongside the station. The basic domestic broadband service that it inherited in the building was threatening to inhibit the aspirations of the radio station and the emerging business incubator, and so finding a suitable replacement was essential. Radio Plus successfully applied for a grant towards the cost of connecting to the Coventry CORE from the government’s SuperConnected Cities voucher scheme and gained access to the network through local internet service provider HBT Communications. Station manager Tim Coleman said: “The Coventry CORE has been transformational for us and for the businesses we support. We have been able to create a virtual network with other media-related businesses that we work with around the city as we can send and receive large audio files instantaneously and have Skype conversations without any buffering. “We have been able to dramatically increase the quality of our streaming service meaning we can deliver a superior sound for our listeners. “As well as the instantaneous benefits of faster browsing and file transfer speeds, there are the longer-term advantages of enabling us and the other businesses here to grow and achieve their potential.” The Coventry CORE is making the city one of the most digitally advanced locations in the UK by providing ultra-fast internet speeds up to 100 times faster than the UK average. Businesses connected to it are able to benefit from seamless online communication, VoIP technology, cloud computing and remote data storage, all of which can save time and money. Brett Marshall, city business development manager for the Coventry CORE, said: “Radio Plus focuses on celebrating positive developments within Coventry and so it is fitting that it has connected to the Coventry CORE which is bringing the city to the forefront of the digital revolution. “Radio Plus has experienced immediate benefits of ultra-fast internet speeds and we are encouraging more businesses in the city to find out how they can make similar gains by registering their interest in the network at www.coventryCORE.com.” Zamurad Hussain, managing director at HBT Communications, said: “We deliver a range of next generation communication packages over the Coventry CORE network and recommended the most powerful Gig+ service to Radio Plus as it meets the needs of such large, media intensive organisations. “It is great to see that the connection is already having such a positive impact on both the radio station and the businesses based alongside it including music producers and web and app developers.” Further information about Radio Plus can be found at www.radioplus.org.uk ENDS PICTURE CAPTION: Pictured at Radio Plus, from left to right, are Tim Coleman, Brett Marshall and Zamurad Hussain.