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Torrington Gains Broadband Wireless

Posted: 17th Jan, 2004 By: MarkJ

Torrington, a small-ish town in Devon, is finally set to get a commercial broadband wireless Internet connection:

Broadband4Devon launches Torrington as its first wireless town

Torrington is set to become the first town in Devons Objective 2 area to have a commercial wireless, broadband connection, thanks to Broadband4Devon. The broadband service operated by partners, Bluewire & ZyNet, will provide businesses and residential users with a super-fast internet connection that can be up to 40 times faster than a standard modem and is on 24 hours a day for a flat monthly fee.

Using a small antenna, about two feet high on a building in the centre of the town, wireless broadband is transmitted as radio waves that are much lower power than mobile phones. The signal will then be bounced on using a series of repeaters so that the more rural areas of Torrington can take advantage of this new technology.

Businesses will now benefit from the use of broadband technologies to improve productivity, efficiency, competitiveness and communications. They will have constant contact with their customers for enquiries, support or taking orders and will have faster transfer of files and web browsing speeds.

Broadband4Devon has worked with the local community and business organisations such as the Community Development Trust, Chamber of Commerce and North Devon Enterprise Agency to assist businesses with the understanding of the benefits of broadband.

Chief Executive, Trevor Smale, of Torridge District Council said This is an exciting development for this area. Torridge District Council strongly believes that using new technology in this way will help to support the innovative businesses and communities that we have here in Torridge.

Broadband4Devon was launched as a result of a unique partnership between Devon County Council, South West of England Regional Development Agency, Business Link Devon and Cornwall, BT, Bluewire, ZyNet, the Devon & Cornwall Business Council, The University of Plymouth and Exeter and the Further Education Colleges of North Devon and Plymouth, with over £5.5million funding from the EU Objective 2 programme.

Broadband4Devon offers businesses, in the Objective 2 area, a choice of subsidised packages ranging from a connection only to integrated business solutions through to complete networks.

Torrington now has the unique opportunity to adopt this revolutionary technology to improve its competitiveness in an ever expanding market place at a subsidised price, backed by all the advice and support they need to get up and running. We are pleased that we can offer this assistance to businesses in rural areas. said David Whiteley, Chairman of Broadband4Devon and The Devon & Cornwall Business Council

Any business or community wishing to receive assistance to obtain and utilise broadband should contact Broadband4Devon on 0845 2702727

Images from the pre-launch are available at: http://www.broadband4devon.org.uk/140104-imagegallery.htm