Cambridge Wireless (formerly Cambridge 3G) has today started the first evaluation phase of its new demonstrator project, which aims to build a radio (wireless) based network that will provide rural areas of Eastern England with faster broadband ISP services.

Initial funding for the project will come from the East of England Development Agency (EEDA), although precise details remain unclear. The service aims to demonstrate the city and the East of England region as a technology hotspot for showcasing innovative business models and improved broadband coverage.


A key part of the project is to look at the economic aspects and to determine if it possible to achieve coverage at reasonable costs in blackspot ("not spot") areas, where there is currently no or limited broadband availability.

It's understood that a trial location for the project has not yet been selected, although one will be picked by the end of their evaluation. A detailed plan for implementation will be produced at the end of March 2011, with the aim of running a 6 month trial later in the year.

UPDATE 11th March 2011

New details confirm that Cambridge Wireless is working with Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN). It's understood that their trial will test 4G / Long Term Evolution ( LTE ) Mobile Broadband technology over the 800MHz radio spectrum.