http://www.wirksworth.net/ is the next logical step for a Derbyshire Dales community that is already in the lead. In November 2003 the community was successful in securing a £30,000 grant under the RABBIT Scheme to link businesses and household using wireless broadband technology. Households and businesses in the town can now choose to access the internet using ADSL or to connect using the wireless system provided by Zycomm Electronics. The wireless system also reaches the outlying areas which are beyond the reach of ADSL. At the launch Simon Berry said,
"Once you have it, technology doesn't matter, it's what the people and the community do with it that counts. wirksworth.net is one of the first steps to effective use of the technology for everyone in Wirksworth and the surrounding areas."
He went on to urge the Wirksworth Community to think of broadband not just in terms of their individual connection to the internet but to think how they might use it as a community. Wirksworth are at the leading edge. They now have a local wireless network that is much faster than any individual connection to the internet and they can think about applications locally that would not be possible if the only option available was individual connrections to the internet using ADSL. Simon mentioned systems that use high speed community broadband to track the location of children and systems to monitor the rhythm of everyday life in the homes of older people thereby enabling them to stay in their community for longer. He said he looked forward to returning in two years time to launch wirksworth.tv!
Editors Notes
More information is available from http://www.wirksworth.net/
See also the related article: Is BT good for rural communities
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