Wi-Fi hubs on lampposts provide free internet access for 1,000 families in initiative set up by school and local council
Checking our emails, updating our Facebook statuses, surfing the web – it has all become second nature to most of us. But for many low-income families, paying up to £35 a month for a broadband connection is a luxury they cannot afford.
In Bury, Greater Manchester, however, an innovative partnership between a school, telecoms company and the local authority has produced what is believed to be the UK's first free community Wi-Fi network, giving poor families round-the-clock access to the web.
The scheme was set up to aid the learning of pupils at Broad Oak sports college in east Bury by giving them free access to the web at home. In 2008, 40% of the school's pupils didn't have broadband at home.
"A significant number of students were at a disadvantage," said deputy head Chris Owen. "They couldn't access the same learning resources that other students they were in competition with were accessing."
Co-funded by the school and Bury council, who collectively raised £140,000, and implemented by communications specialists Pennine Telecom, Wi-Fi hubs were secured to lampposts and the network went live in 2010, providing over 1,000 homes with free internet.
This unlimited access provides children at the school with the opportunity to research independently, and study whenever they like. "The days of going to the library and bringing back something neatly copied are long gone," Owen said. "Our kids can now become digital natives in what is a really exciting domain."
This is not the first time that Broad Oak has offered huge technological opportunities to their pupils. The school provides completely interactive online textbooks in maths, English and science where the students can answer questions, receive feedback and watch video tutorials of teachers explaining problems. In 2007, the school also distributed 68 free laptops to Year 7s under the Computers for Pupils scheme.
In April 2013, Pennine Telecom extended the free network to a one square mile, covering the Trees estate and surrounding roads, providing the east Bury community with free internet access. The network, simply named "Internet", requires no login, has no time limit and can support 400 users at a time. It is currently receiving 200 users daily, and can be accessed from mobile devices and tablets as well as desktop computers and laptops.
TJ Allison, a 19-year-old barman and ex-student of Broad Oak, said the free Wi-Fi is much faster than his family's old broadband connection. "I use it for planning easier routes to work in Manchester, for social media, and when I'm out and about in Bury on my phone as it runs quite quickly," he said.
But why has the school and Pennine Telecom invested in the project? Owen said they just want to help the community. "We've got an awful lot of hardworking families who are on low incomes, and are desperate for their children to do better," he said. "We're easing the high-pressed budget that these families already have."
Ian Taylor, wireless specialist at Pennine Telecom, said: "As a Bury-based company we are acutely aware of the issues of deprivation and inequality, and their impact locally," he says. "We were therefore pleased to donate our time and expertise."
Owen goes on to explain how much time and money can be saved by daily use of the internet. "The average household can save over £500 a year by having access to broadband," he said. "They'll get cheaper deals, do online banking, pay bills, and it will help them find jobs."
Sharon Ingham, a 33-year-old mother who is currently job-hunting, agrees that the free access will be a great help for both her and her toddler: "You can't get away from the internet these days, and just being able to search and apply for jobs will be a great help. It'll also give my two-year-old son more options as he grows up."
Other residents agree the network is a great idea, but think it should be advertised more for the community to take advantage of its benefits. "I didn't know about the free Wi-Fi," said 31-year-old father and HM Forces worker Stephen Farrell. "I haven't seen any advertisements."
"It's a great idea for people who can't afford the internet," said Grace Nindaga, a 23-year-old student. "I think leaflets should be left in doors, a sign should be put outside the school and the schoolkids should spread the word to their neighbours and friends."
Mother and Bury College student, Mo Tologiwa, 42, is thrilled to hear about the project. Her own TalkTalk broadband was cut off because she could no longer afford to pay. She has been taking her daughter to the library to study ever since, but now they will both be able to study at home. "The free internet is really going to help," she said. "I'll definitely use it, as I'm a student too. It will make my life easier."
Posted on Thu, 18 Jul 2013 11:11:24 GMT at http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/the-n...-broad-oak