North Yorkshire is to get a £12m wireless broadband network which will connect council offices, schools and libraries across England's largest county.

The initiative is spearheaded by North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) backed by public and private finance.

Bucks-based MLL Telecom is providing the broadband network to NYCC as part of a managed service, with Alcatel as its technology partner.

As the project develops it should also mean that the county's 25,000 small and medium-sized businesses will also be able to hook up to the service. Eventually, it's hoped home users will also be able to access the broadband network.

Said John Moore, Director of Finance at NYCC: "A countywide broadband network is an asset to be enjoyed and used by all members of the community. It provides the foundation for us to provide easier information exchange and joined up service delivery."

Last month Cambridgeshire County Council announced its plan to team up with NTL Business to build a broadband network for the county's rural community.

The £29m contract should bring broadband to 300 council offices, schools, libraries and community access points across Cambridgeshire by 2004. ®

Related Story

Cambridgeshire snuggles up to NTL