Wireless has significant limitations - not least of which is the shared medium and limited spectrum.
There are in fact some users with wireless thanks to the previous incentive scheme ... except that the money's run out and C&W are pulling the plug on them.
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/rural-area-set-to-lose-broadband-1.957585
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/mp-steps-into-row-over-broadband-withdrawal-1.957173
We used to have another option via radio until a couple of years ago. The government indirectly caused that scheme to get pulled when they (as I recall) changed the Rates system so that every tower, duct, pole etc would have to pay rates based on what it could theoretically earn rather than what it actually earns.
And to the first poster :
>> So they want next generation broadband...on the cheap
No, they just want a decent broadband for (nearly) everyone.
I can't help think that both companies had this idea that they'd take the money and then just pipe up those area where it's profitable to do so. Just reading between the lines of "didn't meet all the requirements of the tender".