Wireless broadband trial brings hope for rural users UK

molinaalexis

A new "long range" wireless broadband service could deliver fast and affordable Net access for people who live in areas currently not served by ADSL or cable if a trial in Essex proves successful.

The trial is funded with a £200,000 grant from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and will provide broadband for the whole of the Tendring District.

Initially, the trial involves 30 users but there are plans to extend the project to cover Colchester, Ipswich and parts of Suffolk.

The three-month trial is due to begin in the spring and local businesses and residents are currently being recruited to take part in the scheme.

The technology involved is a long-range wireless broadband system and is understood to be the first of its kind in the UK. A similar system is up and running in Dallas, Texas.

Using wireless broadcast technology, each mast has a range of up to 25 miles and can deliver speeds of up to 1.5Mbps.

Although pricing has yet to be finalised, those behind the trial expect installation and equipment costs to be no more than £200. Monthly wholesale fees per user is expected to be around £14.50, giving ISPs the chance to offer the service at competitive rates to BT's ADSL service.

If the trial in Tendring, and another one planned for the North West of England, prove successful, then a full commercial roll-out of the service could begin in 2004.

Those behind the technology say it is best suited to rural areas and edge-of-town developments.

News source: http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/22/28340.html

Urban Weigl

I read this earlier today, and it certainly seems very interesting, especially the £14.50 wholesale price, and where they mention it has a range of 25 miles -- which is a lot. If someone could find out more about the technology and equipment used, that would be really useful.

If the trials are successfull, perhaps this is an opportunity for the likes of nevada to offer a service based on this technology in rural Ireland?

Stonemason

I think this is the only way alot of people in rural areas will get broadband.I cant see our small local echange ever being upgraded to ADSL.Also if it omni directional in a small country like this it wouldnt be to hard to get everyone connected.

spongebob

This is being tested in a really REALLY flat area with great line of sight for miles....l

M

LFCFan

Originally posted by Muck
This is being tested in a really REALLY flat area with great line of sight for miles....l

M

There are plenty of large flatland in Ireland that could benefit from this.

quozl

in saggart, a guy called Steve Reader is sharing out 2 way satellite to about 25 clients using 802.11b. None of those people could even get ISDN as it's a rural area. He also now is connected to another Steve 8km away who has eircom 1mbit ADSL which he could use if he wanted instead.

The above guys are members of DubWAN, and have a network stretching from Hazelhatch in kildare, through Lucan, Leixlip, onto Saggart and with a usable signal into tallaght (guys setting up there).

There's also another rapidly growing group in D15 who i'd guess are only one hop from being able to connect to this west dublin network.

Interesting times.

Greg