RBAP Jumps It's Last Hurdle!!
Document Actions
Yes the time has come a little earlier than predicted perhaps where the fast rolling ball of the broadband connection can be seen a little clearer in comparison to the start of the year.
The daunting prospect of gaining State Aid approval has in turn proven to be a success, therefore making the next stage of the rolling out process so close we can almost taste it!
The European Commission has authorised, under EU State Aid rules, a UK broadband project which aims at bridging the "digital divide" between certain areas of England that currently have fast internet access and those that do not.
The initiative will bring broadband communications to parts of the West Midlands, including 8 exchange areas in Staffordshire (see Broadband map link) which are currently underserved, allowing citizens and businesses to exploit the benefits of broadband technology.
One of the objectives of the Rural Broadband Access Project, (RBAP) which feeds into the UK National Broadband Strategy, is to address the current gap in broadband service delivery between communities which can get affordable access and those who cannot. The rural nature and geographical remoteness of the concerned areas make them an unattractive goal for investment by broadband service providers. The project aims at correcting this "digital divide" by awarding grants to service providers selected through public tenders, to extend first generation broadband coverage to underserved areas of the West Midlands.
The UK authorities have implemented a number of safeguards to ensure that the aid amounts are kept to a minimum and do not distort competition to an extent contrary to the common interest. In that respect, the funding for the provision of whole sale broadband will be open to all internet service providers, the project does not favour a specific technology.
The next stop is for the West Midlands Networking Company to award the RBAP contract, which will identify the appropriate Broadband Technology for each of the target exchange areas and determine the timetable for exchange enablement.
Watch this space for more news!!!
Last modified 2005-10-10 09:47
Sentinal - Hamstall Ridware - Village gets connected!
