Why wait? Do it yourself super-fast internet …

Internet Connection problems, we’ve all had them at some point be it on the move, in the office or at home. We usually grin and bear it occasionally picking up the phone to make a complaint that’s logged and usually not fixed much faster then if you just got on with your day as normal. Well not for some people, you see for some who live in areas not so well equipped as London and other big cities where broadband is at our finger tips. What do those people do? Where do they get their super-fast internet that is being talked about so often from? Telecoms and internet providers do not see a big market and so they don’t service these areas. Well the residents are taking a stand and are installing there own super-fast broadband!

The community-based tactic is not a new idea to gain connectivity but is working well, with promises to have many networks up and running by the end of 2008. The role out of fibre-optics and WiMAX has given hope to these remote areas. One scheme, CyberMoor (http://www.cybermoor.org/) has brought wireless broadband to areas ‘off the beaten track’ (so to speak) within Cumbria.

DIY fibre-optics take a lot of planning, digging and most of all community team work. The logistics however, are relatively quite straightforward, according to Daniel Heery, head of the project in Cumbria. Malcolm Corbett, head of the Community Broadband Network (CBN - http://www.broadband-uk.coop/) comments; "While BT has been sitting on its hands the public sector is going to start experimenting," well said! The CBN is working in 10 areas including Walsall, Nottingham and Manchester and says it represents 20% of the UK population.

This kind of scheme is also seen in other parts of Europe like Holland, where OnsNet’s (http://www.onsnetnuenen.nl/) community-based fibre project sit alongside larger rollouts. This is definitely something that would be great to see in the UK and it’s great to see that people are taking action themselves; perhaps we may start to see similar projects for mobile phone coverage?