RESIDENTS living in a remote dale face a hike in the cost of high speed broadband after a wireless provider announced it will end its service.

The Digital Teesdale project, which has supplied broadband to farmers, businesses and homes in Teesdale, County Durham, since 2011, is to end within a month.

It means that 139 residents, who struggle for internet access, face a significant increase in outlay if they can find another provider.

Online telecom news site www.cable.co.uk revealed that ITS Technology Group took over from Wireless Networks when it went into administration. It has been providing the broadband, but claims that it is now not commercially viable.

Farmers Carl and Julia Stephenson, of Pikestone Farm, Woodland, near Barnard Castle, are Digital Teesdale customers.

Mr Stephenson told The Northern Echo: “Over two years we found this service was excellent.

“We enjoyed very fast unlimited broadband at a very reasonable £50 set up cost with inexpensive £20 monthly charges.

“We have a farming business and one of our daughters, who lives at home, is studying for a Masters’ degree at Northumbria University while working at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle.

“Broadband is vital to our business as things like cattle movements have to be online. It is also important to our daughter’s studies.

“Whatever choice we make for broadband now, we face being without it for a considerable time.

“This is a vibrant farming community and people will struggle due to this.

“A lot of people will have to travel to friends or agencies to access emails or simply feel like they’re in the 21st century.”

There are fears over how much it will cost to get another internet service

Helen Goodman, Bishop Auckland’s Labour MP, said: “The state of broadband in Teesdale is totally unacceptable.

“This Government has made a number of mistakes which have disadvantaged people in Durham. I will continue to lobby for improvements.”

Roy Shelton, chief executive officer of ITS said the business had been talking to another internet service provider, Comtek, in the hope of offering a reliable service, but at least 50 people had to sign up.

He said: “Unfortunately, the project wasn’t as successful as anticipated.

“It was ITS’ intention to upgrade and make a significant investment to deliver a more robust, faster and viable network to the Dale.

“However, the cost associated with this has made the network commercially unviable.

“The network is due to be turned off within the next 30 days. This decision was not taken lightly, and other funding options were explored.”