Gridline Communications Holdings, Inc. (GCH), a provider of smart grid communications solutions, announced on June 6 that it has launched a Broadband over Power Line pilot test in Shap, Cumbria County, U.K., to demonstrate the feasibility of both consumer broadband services and smart meter operations within a deep rural environment.

GCH, of Frisco, Texas, is dedicated to using broadband transport networks, deployed for Smart Grid services, to provide communities and their businesses and residents with reliable, cost-effective, access to communications, online services, and information.

With a population just over 1,000, Shap, Cumbria County, U.K. has four pubs, a small supermarket, a fish and chip shop, an antique book shop, a butcher's shop, a primary school, a newsagent's, a coffee shop, a fire station, a bank (only open 4 hours a week), a shoe shop, and a church. It is situated 10 miles from Penrith and about 15 miles (24 km) from Kendal. Major employers in the area are the Hanson and Corus limestone quarries.

 The pilot program is being executed in partnership with Electricity Northwest Ltd., Cable and Wireless Worldwide, and T-Systems U.K. Full deployment of the pilot is expected to be completed by the end of June 2011. Once completed and validated, the partnership expects to move to a full deployment model, addressing approximately 2.5M meters/structures throughout the Electricity Northwest power grid.

The news has delighted Rory Stewart, Tory MP for Penrith and the Border, who hosted a broadband conference in Penrith last August. “This is fantastic news for the Cumbrian economy and rural areas at this very challenging time. …"It will help people to work from and continue to live in remote communities and help those of who live in rural Cumbria to overcome the barrier of distance. This is a dream come true,” he commented.

At a meeting in March, the Cumbria County Council commented, “We recognize the golden opportunity this represents for the communities of Cumbria and are keen to support it.”

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