South Norfolk launches free wireless internet network

Ten communities in South Norfolk today got free wireless access to the internet after South Norfolk Council announced the launch of phase one of its part in the Norfolk Open Link project.

It means anyone in the ten communities in range of a wireless access point will be able to log onto the internet for free using their wi-fi enabled laptops, mobile phones and personal hand-held devices. Sessions for users will be limited to one hour and each access point offers radial coverage of up to 300 metres, where line of sight exists.

South Norfolk Council Leader Vivienne Clifford-Jackson said:

"We are opening up the internet to people on the move and encouraging business and tourism as well as opening up learning opportunities at internet enabled public spaces.

"Living in a rural community should never mean that people are excluded from the best that technology has to offer, and today's announcement is another big step in the right direction for South Norfolk."

Norfolk Open Link is the largest community wireless broadband network in the UK and the only one offering free mobile internet access for public sector employees, the business community and the public. Today's announcement by South Norfolk Council is part of that wider Norfolk Open Link project which went live in Norwich last summer following a successful launch by Norfolk County Council.

Norfolk Open Link is a two-year pilot project running from March 2006 to March 2008. The South Norfolk part of the project is funded by a £247,815 grant from the East of England Development Agency.

Norfolk Open Link is now also looking for proposals for projects to benefit businesses or the public using the new wireless technology available through the network.

Norfolk County Council has £30,000 available as an incentive to help people, businesses or organisations to develop ideas that could be used on the Norfolk Open Link wireless broadband network. The project team hope to market test the viability of as many ideas as possible and will make a financial contribution to enable the best ones to be brought forward.

Full details are available on the www.norfolkopenlink.com site and on the Norfolk County Council web site home page.

There are ten sites in South Norfolk at:

Ashwellthorpe Industrial Estate; Breckland Hall, Costessey; Easton College; The Railway Tavern, Framingham Earl; Hempnall Village Hall; Park Farm Hotel, Hethersett; South Norfolk Council's Depot at Ketteringham; Mulbarton Village Hall; Coldham Hall Tavern at Surlingham and Swardeston Village Hall.

The wireless access points in South Norfolk are fixed largely to the outside of buildings and they are linked to the more than 200 fixed largely to lamp posts in Norwich using advanced mesh technology to create the network, with the main internet connection at County Hall. Of the ten sites, the Easton College site offers the largest coverage with four wireless access points giving coverage across the main campus area.

College Deputy Principal, Patricia Bell said:

“Easton College, the agricultural college for Norfolk, knows only too well the problems that people in rural areas have in communication. This is a most exciting development for us in South Norfolk and we are proud to be part of it."

South Norfolk Council's key partner is Norfolk County Council. Harry Humphrey, Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Personnel, Finance, Property and Corporate Affairs at Norfolk County Council said:

"This is an exciting time for the Norfolk Open Link project - which has been a great success since the launch by Norfolk County Council in Norwich this summer.

"The extension of the scheme, with the launch of the South Norfolk phase, means that as of today, Norfolk has the only wireless network delivering free internet access to both urban and rural locations in the United Kingdom.

"The project is already being used by over 1000 people a day - benefiting members of the public and businesses within the network whilst also importantly allowing public sector workers with remote jobs, such as social workers and midwives, to access information whilst on the move."

The project is funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

John Snyder, EEDA board member, said:

"Assisting in the development of new innovative Information Communications Technologies (ICT) in the East of England is one of EEDA’s key priorities and the extension of the Open Link service to ten new sites in South Norfolk will bring many benefits to businesses and individuals living and working there.

"It will also help to further demonstrate that broadband is a utility, like gas, electricity and water and should not be scarce and overpriced, but part of everyday life.”

Pete Davis, Regional Business Director of Synetrix said:

"The extension of Norfolk Open Link into South Norfolk communities demonstrates the broad scope of this project, utilising the capability of emerging wireless technologies through considered planning.

"Open Link is now serving rural and urban areas, the public, business and the public sector, with a common interface and consistent approach. This means that residents of these areas benefit equally from these services regardless of their location."

Mark Allen, Managing Director of Beanstalk Broadband Ltd, said: “The extension of Open Link into the rural communities of South Norfolk is a tremendous example of how new communication technologies can be used to bridge the digital divide.

“In fact, with Open Link, the East is now moving beyond the rest of the country and leading the way in ensuring that those who live, work, learn and play in the area have access to the best that internet and the rest of the world has to offer.”

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