Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2006/02/02/cbn_notspot/
Survey maps UK's broadband 'notspots'
Mind the gap
Posted in Networks, 2nd February 2006 11:32 GMT
The Community Broadband Network (CBN) wants to map all the areas in the UK currently unable to access a decent broadband service.
The group, which has already helped more than 80 communities set up their own high-speed net services using satellite and wireless services, wants to locate all the broadband "notspots" to see if other technologies could be used to supply net services.
According to the latest stats, around 99 per cent of the UK is connected to a brodband-enabled telephone exchange while around half the population can hook up to a cable provider.
The roll-out of high speed internet services has been so successful that Northern Ireland and Yorkshire have recently announced that they have 100 per cent broadband coverage.
Despite these claims, there are still some homes and businesses that, for whatever reason, still can't get broadband. It is these pockets CBN wants to map so it can obtain a detailed picture of where the notspots are, and then work with public sector, commercial and community partners to tackle the problem.
CBN head Malcolm Corbett said: "BT and the other providers have done a great job in rolling out broadband so widely, but there are gaps and we need to find out where they are so solutions can be found to meet community needs."
The survey is being carried out by CBN along with satellite outfit Avanti Broadband and the Access to Broadband Campaign. The first results of the survey are due out in early March. ®