Delivering reliable Wi-Fi to churches across the UK

Challenge

English churches, often historic and with unique structural challenges, struggle to access reliable broadband internet. Many are in remote areas with poor 4G coverage and are not listed on standard databases for broadband connections. Additionally, church staff and volunteers, who are not technical experts, need a simple and manageable Wi-Fi solution to support digital worship, community activities, and contactless payments.
Solution

TP-Link reseller, Litenet provided a comprehensive Wi-Fi solution using Omada platform. This included installing 4G or Gigabit VPN routers, Omada hardware controllers, Wi-Fi 5/6 ceiling-mounted access points and switches. The Omada platform allowed for centralised, remote management, making it easy for Litenet to handle requests such as password changes and guest network setups without on-site visits. The solution was tailored to meet the specific needs of churches, ensuring reliable and scalable connectivity.
Result

The implementation of Omada solution network significantly improved connectivity for over 40 churches across England. Churches were able to live-stream services, hold management meetings via Zoom, and support community events with reliable Wi-Fi. The solution also facilitated contactless payments, increasing donations. The unobtrusive installation preserved the historic integrity of church buildings. Overall, the churches experienced enhanced digital engagement and community connectivity, with positive feedback highlighting the ease of use and reliability of the Wi-Fi system.

Implementation Partner

Litenet LTD is a full circle technology firm based in Buckinghamshire and are technological specialists working with VoIP systems, internet network connectivity, Wi-Fi, Copper and Fibre cabling.

Installing Wi-Fi into an 800-year-old church was not easy and the support we received from Chris Thomas at Litenet has been first rate. We find the TP-Link Omada Wi-Fi very easy to use.

James Platt,

PCC member, Trustee and Fabric Committee Chairman, St Lawrence's Church, Stratford sub Castle

About Litenet and the English churches

TP-Link reseller Litenet is providing Wi-Fi connectivity and technical support to a niche group of customers - over 40 churches across England, from Bristol and Weymouth to Coventry and Leicester. These traditional and often historic institutions have become more digitalised in recent years, because church staff and congregations increasingly need to engage and communicate using the internet.
Churches Transition to Online Services

Enforced closures in the Covid pandemic prompted many churches to take services online. Aspects of digital worship and activities have continued or even expanded, after community life resumed in person.

The Omada Wi-Fi solution does exactly what our church customers need. We manage it remotely and it's priced affordably for not-for-profit organisations. Most churches don't have IT managers, so the simple user experience is great.

Chris Thomas,

Technical Director, Litenet

Litenet’s Expansion into Church
Streaming Services

Litenet was approached by one local church in 2020 and successfully connected them, so they could stream services over the web. Demand then grew rapidly from other churches, creating a new market segment for Litenet.
Keeping Church Communities Connected

Churches often struggle to access broadband internet. Their addresses may not be listed on the BT Openreach database, so they can't use standard business or domestic channels to request a connection. Some are in remote rural areas where cable broadband isn't available. "Churches are often huge, centuries-old buildings with thick walls. 4G coverage is often poor, so you can't rely on people using their own mobile network," adds Chris Thomas, Technical Director at Litenet.
Helping Churches with Seamless
Wi-Fi Solutions

Although many people who work and worship in churches are digitally savvy internet and mobile users, they are not technical experts. "Many churches are run by volunteers who lack the time, skills or patience to set up or manage Wi-Fi networks themselves," says Chris. "We realised we could add value by offering to do it all for them, using TP-Link's Omada platform."
Simple Wi-Fi solution that works
in unique buildings

"We provide BT internet connectivity to the church if available or use 4G if not," says Chris. "We install the hardware and products they need. We charge a monthly ISP fee and offer ongoing remote management as part of the service. It's a very popular model - our churches are our biggest fans and recommend us constantly."

Omada Total Cloud Managed Network

An Easy and Simple Solution

"Using TP-Link's Omada controller makes it easy and cost effective for us to manage all the church installations. There's rarely any need for intervention but if anything isn't working properly, we'll see it and fix it straight away, usually before the church even notices. "

- Chris Thomas, Technical Director, Litenet
Remote Management and Installation
with Omada

For a typical installation, Chris uses TP-Link's 4G router or Gigabit VPN router, Omada hardware controller, Wi-Fi 5/6 ceiling mounted access points and switches. Omada's remote management allows Chris and his team to carry out the main requests from churches: password changes or occasionally, guest network set-ups, without having to attend on-site.

Our main driver for installing the TP-Link Wi-Fi was to live-stream services. We hold management meetings via Zoom from the church building and several hirers of the church hall use the network. The system runs itself with no problems in strength or stability of signal. Litenet UK were very helpful and supportive in setting it up.

Chris Berry

Church Warden, St Paul's Church, Wooburn

Omada: High Quality and Reliable Solution

"We've used TP-Link Omada products before in commercial installations and been very impressed with the quality and reliability. For the churches it was the obvious choice: Omada does everything we need and more. It's great value for money and we can set it up in the simplest way. The churches don't need to do anything except tell their users the Wi-Fi password. The Omada access points offer very good coverage - there are no black spots."
Preserving Heritage with
Modern Technology

For churches that have a separate church hall, Litenet's team can install Wi-Fi in the hall and use TP-Link's Pharos equipment to extend the signal to the church without the need for any cabling. "It can be easier to get permission to install the equipment in the more modern church halls and it minimises impact on historic buildings," Chris explains. "Omada's access points are streamlined and unobtrusive, but we have provided stone or wood-effect wrapping in a few churches, which makes them almost unnoticeable."
Widening community outreach and enabling
digital donations

Since the pandemic, many churches have continued to livestream some or all services, using a hybrid approach. Worshippers who are housebound or can't easily get to church can take part remotely, as part of a wider virtual church community.

Families and friends appreciate live streaming when gathering for a funeral or memorial service. Loved ones far away or overseas who would not have been able to attend in person can join the service live online or view a recording later.

"In bigger churches, there can be a congregation of up to 150 online for a major service. The church live streams to YouTube in HD using multiple cameras. At one funeral, 900 people joined online to pay their respects," says Chris.

100% centralised cloud management of the whole network from different sites - all controlled from a single interface anywhere, anytime.

Enhancing Donations with
Contactless Payments

Internet connectivity is also important for contactless payments. Many people carry little or no cash these days. Collections for charity and church funds during services were suffering. Litenet's church customers can solve this problem by installing a Wi-Fi-connected contactless payment (EPOS) terminal at the back of church, so people can donate by tapping their card or device.
Improving Community Events with
Reliable Wi-Fi Access

With simple, password-accessible Wi-Fi, some churches have found that their spaces are more in demand for community use. Clubs and groups can access digital resources on a high-quality network for their events and meetings. More bookings generate extra money towards running costs and for donations to
church causes.
A Success Story

"We provide a turnkey service, making it really easy for churches to offer and use digital services that support and complement their face-to-face welcome and outreach. They appreciate our friendly and personal service, with help always at the end of a phone. Using TP-Link's Omada products, we can give them a totally reliable service, taking away technology worries and keeping costs low and predictable."

Litenet's team listened carefully to come up with a plan that worked for us, and the way we use our church building. Visitors can connect, and we use the Wi-Fi to live-stream our services so people can join in our community from afar. Only the other day, someone commented on how much this allows them to feel connected with the church. We are very happy to have a system which contributes a great deal to our holy and unconditional welcome. It also enables us to offer a facility to make online donations, which forms a growing part of our income generation.

Caroline Plaice

Church Warden, Holy Trinity Church, Horfield (Bristol)