26 March 2013
Mid Norfolk as a constituency struggles with adequate broadband provisions. Many users suffer from slow speeds and some residents live in “notspots”. Since becoming a candidate in 2007, George has been a driving force behind championing and developing Broadband in Mid Norfolk. He successfully campaigned in 2010 and 2011 with Norfolk County Council and other MPs for a £15 million grant from Broadband Delivery UK, which was matched by Norfolk County Council. He continues to support the NCC / BDUK Scheme, but has said “we can’t sit on our hands and wait for BT to reach every village in Mid Norfolk. We need innovative local schemes such as this to help fill the broadband void and complete the final mile.”
On Friday 1st March George visited the ITSwisp office in Hurricane Way Norwich. “I am determined to make sure that we encourage and support innovative, entrepreneurial local schemes which bring fast Broadband to villages and “notspots”, and those individual homes which want it. That’s why I have I visited ITSwisp and am working to promote local solutions for local residents.... watch this space.”
ITSwisp is the brainchild of InTouch Systems, a local independent IT solutions provider based in Norwich. They have installed a meshed wireless internet system covering large parts of rural Norfolk, known as ITSwisp. Use of a meshed system is vitally important because if a link fails or becomes congested; an alternate link is automatically selected, ensuring a dynamic, flexible and reliable network.
The ITSwisp broadband network launches live with sites covering large areas around Norwich, Beccles and Bungay, Fakenham, Holt, Caister, with Wymondham following soon. However seeing is believing, check out the coverage map at www.itswisp.co.uk to see the full extent of the wireless broadband service provided now across Norfolk and Suffolk, directly to residential and business subscribers.
During the coming year local repeater sites will be added to strengthen the wireless signal around certain areas, as well as increasing the range of the existing service. From each point InTouch Systems will bounce the wireless signal onwards to another transmitter, as part of the process of extending coverage throughout Norfolk.
The flexibility of this system is that repeater sites can be in any reasonably tall building in a village or town, where a discrete wireless transmitter can be installed. These will be installed at no charge to the local area with the owner of the site receiving discounted or free internet, depending on the number of subscribers to the site.
George continues to support innovative local broadband initiatives. He said: “Better broadband is crucial to Norfolk’s economy and community. Far too many homes and commercial properties are stuck without basic broadband either too slow or ‘notspots’. Our economy can lead the economic recovery but, it is absolutely critical for rural businesses to have access to good broadband services and many simply can’t wait. Innovative local schemes such as this are crucial in providing the broadband coverage that is needed alongside the ongoing work of BDUK / County Council and BT.”
On Friday 1st March George visited the ITSwisp office in Hurricane Way Norwich. “I am determined to make sure that we encourage and support innovative, entrepreneurial local schemes which bring fast Broadband to villages and “notspots”, and those individual homes which want it. That’s why I have I visited ITSwisp and am working to promote local solutions for local residents.... watch this space.”
ITSwisp is the brainchild of InTouch Systems, a local independent IT solutions provider based in Norwich. They have installed a meshed wireless internet system covering large parts of rural Norfolk, known as ITSwisp. Use of a meshed system is vitally important because if a link fails or becomes congested; an alternate link is automatically selected, ensuring a dynamic, flexible and reliable network.
The ITSwisp broadband network launches live with sites covering large areas around Norwich, Beccles and Bungay, Fakenham, Holt, Caister, with Wymondham following soon. However seeing is believing, check out the coverage map at www.itswisp.co.uk to see the full extent of the wireless broadband service provided now across Norfolk and Suffolk, directly to residential and business subscribers.
During the coming year local repeater sites will be added to strengthen the wireless signal around certain areas, as well as increasing the range of the existing service. From each point InTouch Systems will bounce the wireless signal onwards to another transmitter, as part of the process of extending coverage throughout Norfolk.
The flexibility of this system is that repeater sites can be in any reasonably tall building in a village or town, where a discrete wireless transmitter can be installed. These will be installed at no charge to the local area with the owner of the site receiving discounted or free internet, depending on the number of subscribers to the site.
George continues to support innovative local broadband initiatives. He said: “Better broadband is crucial to Norfolk’s economy and community. Far too many homes and commercial properties are stuck without basic broadband either too slow or ‘notspots’. Our economy can lead the economic recovery but, it is absolutely critical for rural businesses to have access to good broadband services and many simply can’t wait. Innovative local schemes such as this are crucial in providing the broadband coverage that is needed alongside the ongoing work of BDUK / County Council and BT.”
