Satellite ISP Tooway Direct UK, which is powered by Eutelsat's 10Mbps capable KA-SAT (Tooway10mb) spacecraft at 9° East, has won a bid that will see its platform being used to connect 1,050 "digitally disadvantaged" rural homes and businesses in Devon and Somerset via free standard installation and hardware.

The Rural Connection project uses EU funding from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE), which will be matched by private sector investment, to help connect 'Not Spot' premises that "stand little chance" of being connected up to a more traditional fixed line broadband service (often because they live too far from the telephone exchange).

An analysis of connectivity across the counties recently revealed that four clusters receive a particularly poor broadband service (i.e. sub-2Mbps), which covers the areas of North, Mid and East Devon and Wheddon Cross in Exmoor, Somerset. Tooway Direct has also launched a Post Code checking service to enable people to discover whether or not they qualify for the service.


A Devon based ethical IT Company, Cosmic, will also offer free ICT training and support alongside the scheme to help first time broadband users and businesses get the most out of it. Customers who do nott qualify for the scheme could still gain access to a "specially discounted Tooway package" with FREE installation, so long as they live in Devon and Somerset. Further details can be found on Tooway Direct's website.