Connectivity is a pressing issue in our digital age, and is not as ubiquitous as many assume. Superfast broadband has an availability of 95% in urban areas, but just 66% in rural villages. Those living in isolated areas should not be denied the same connections of city dwellers, yet they continue to struggle to access the internet, to the detriment of social lives and business opportunities. This issue is close to the heart of Nominet’s Emerging

We note that DCMS (the Department responsible for telecoms policy) has today, 30th July, published a Consultation Document around the proposed USO initiative. This sets out the Government’s initial position, informed by last year’s consultation exercise and subsequent technical assessment carried out by Ofcom, that there should be a 10Mbps threshold, that excess costs should be covered by a USO Fund, the cost of which should be shared across the industry, and that BT and

Arran Broadband is pleased to announce the extension of its Arran network around the south side of the island, now providing coverage to the communities of Sliddery, Kilmory, Shannochie and Kildonan, using the exciting new technology of TV WhiteSpace radio. Following the successful launch of service in the Machrie/Shiskine/Blackwaterfoot area, the larger network will be able to serve an additional 300-or-so properties, bringing the benefits of high speed broadband to even more of the island’s

Presenting to the North Wales branch of the CLA, in Llanwyrst, Conwyn, Broadway Partners gave the case for TV WhiteSpace as a powerful technology for delivering high quality broadband to 100% of households and businesses across the UK – even in the most remote parts of Wales. The timing was good, in that the event took place the day after the publication of the UK Government’s Digital Strategy paper, in which Secretary of State Karen

Part of the wireless spectrum freed up after the digital TV switchover is being used to provide broadband services in rural Scotland. The first to benefit from “white space” internet will be residents on the Isle of Arran, who have struggled with poor broadband speeds. Domain name firm Nominet is partnering with telecoms firm Broadway Partners to roll it out. They claim it is the first commercial service using the technology in Europe. The service