About B4SH – Built by and for the Community
Broadband for Surrey Hills (B4SH) is a not-for-profit, community-led broadband provider dedicated to building a new, independent full-fibre network across the Surrey Hills. We’re proud to be the only local broadband provider focused on delivering exceptional speed, reliability, and personal customer service.
Unlike traditional providers, our network is 100% fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) — with fibre running all the way into each property, fully buried underground for maximum resilience and protection from weather-related damage.
Our network grows “domino style”, extending organically from one connected area to the next. This means that every new connection helps make it easier to bring fibre to neighbouring properties and communities.
B4SH is driven by volunteers, including our directors, and we work closely with local landowners to secure free wayleaves (permissions to dig) across soft ground so that we can reach even the most rural homes.
While our team provides the technology, equipment, and expertise, we ask property owners — with the support of local volunteers — to help by digging the short section from their boundary to their home. It’s a true community partnership: built locally, owned locally, and designed to serve the Surrey Hills for generations to come.
How Community Investment and Voucher Funding Work Together
B4SH is a Community Benefit Society, which means our network is built and owned by the community, for the community. To fund our expansion into rural areas, we rely on a combination of government support and local investment.
Where possible, part of our funding comes from the Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme, which provides £1500 for residential connections and £3,500 for each business connection towards the cost of building new full-fibre connections. These vouchers help reduce the overall cost of installation and allow us to reach more homes and businesses.
However, voucher funding alone doesn’t cover the full cost of bringing fibre to the more remote parts of the Surrey Hills. That’s why community investment plays a vital role. Local residents and supporters can purchase redeemable community shares in B4SH, directly helping to fund the design and build of new network routes.
This shared model of funding — community investment combined with government vouchers — means every connection helps make the next one possible. Together, we’re building a faster, more resilient broadband network that will benefit our communities for decades to come.
Find out more about investing in B4SH by emailing office@b4sh.org.uk or giving us a call on 01483 347437.