2 March 2005
New community broadband networks are thriving throughout the UK, the Community Broadband Network will report later today from the DTI Summit event.
The "Springing Up All Over" report published recently revealed nearly 550 new broadband initiatives have been launched in the UK, many of which now provide internet accessibility to rural areas thanks to low cost wireless technology and license exempt spectrums.
"We found many more projects than we expected and we know that we haven't found them all," commented CBN chief Malcolm Corbett.
"Our research shows that small businesses and community-led social enterprises can have an impact on broadband development providing services in rural areas, and for sections of the community the big players find hard to reach.
"It also shows that a lot more communities are developing wireless broadband services than the government and OFCOM realise."
Around 40 per cent of these new broadband initiatives were discovered to be social enterprises for business and community needs.
Many of them are hosting less than 50 users but 40 per cent have between 50 and 500 users with nine per cent hosting from 500 to in excess of 1000 users.© DeHavilland Information Services plc
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