Cambridge Wireless to investigate new business model in Rural Broadband provision.
Cambridge Wireless Project helps city thrive on innovative ideas.
7th March 2011 – Cambridge Wireless has started a detailed evaluation of a demonstrator for rural broadband provision, using initial funding from EEDA. This is part of a project which aims to demonstrate the city and the East of England region as a technology hotspot for demonstrating innovative business models for broadband coverage. Paul May, Executive Director of Innovation for EEDA comments, “We are incredibly excited to be helping Cambridge Wireless to start this project and hope it will be benefit the Cambridge Wireless Community and the wireless ecosystem in the region”.
The evaluation is the first phase of a project which aims to build a radio based network to provide broadband coverage by wireless in a target location in the eastern region. Selection of a target region is part of the initial evaluation. A key part of the project is to look at the economic aspects and to determine if it possible to achieve coverage at reasonable costs in blackspot areas where there is currently no or limited broadband availability and where there are no plans for broadband availability in the foreseeable future from current providers.
Cambridge Wireless is working with multinational suppliers of telecommunications equipment and services in order to establish the feasibility of the trial.
“We are delighted to be working with EEDA on this important initiative” says Stirling Essex of Cambridge Wireless. “Supporting trials of new technologies and business models, and harnessing the capabilities of both the partners in the trial and our local companies will continue to demonstrate that Cambridge is the place where emerging innovative business models are conceived, investigated and tested”.
A detailed plan for implementation will be produced at the end of March 2011 with the aim of running a 6 month trial later in the year. For more information, please email Claire.hamence[at]cambridgewireless[dot]co.uk
About Cambridge Wireless
Cambridge Wireless is a leading industry forum and vibrant community with a rapidly expanding network of companies actively involved in the development and application of wireless technologies. In addition to high level networking dinners, educational events and business development activities, Cambridge Wireless runs an annual Future of Wireless International Conference along with the Discovering Start-Ups initiative to support emerging, innovative wireless companies. Over 15 Special Interest Groups focused on specific technologies and market sectors, also provide opportunities for members to meet, form partnerships to exploit new commercial opportunities, and share knowledge and information about the latest industry trends and hot topics. Cambridge Wireless has partnerships with other leading industry clusters and organisations around the world to extend its international reach and to keep members up to date with the latest global developments and business opportunities. For more information, please visit www.cambridgewireless.co.uk
About East of England Development Agency
EEDA has a clear mission – to improve the economy of the East of England.
So whether it’s helping businesses through the recession, supporting people to be the best they can or breathing new life into places, everything we do comes back to our mission statement. EEDA works across the six counties of Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
Our investment decisions have a track record of delivering considerable returns. A recent independent report found that for every £1 EEDA spent, we generated a mid-point return of £4.75 for the region’s economy. For more information please visit: www.eeda.org.uk
For Cambridge Wireless please contact:
Claire Hamence, Events and Marketing Coordinator, Cambridge Wireless
Tel: +44 1223 422 365
Email: admin[at]cambridgewireless[dot]co.uk.
