[30 April 2003]

Communities and small enterprises could be the next to benefit from Oxfordshire County Council’s plan to connect the whole area to a common broadband network.

The Oxfordshire Community Network has now been installed in around 40% of schools and 77% of libraries - bringing fast internet access and a real technological step forward. A universal e-mail system will be offered to school users this Autumn and is already being piloted in six schools.

It is hoped that all of the county’s schools and libraries will have been linked by September. More than 20 Lifelong Learning Centres have also been linked.

As the project grows the increased use of video conferencing across the broadband network will enable learners across the county to collaborate and benefit from specialist teachers without the need to travel.

The next stage of the project will see work with District Councils to provide a unified communications network for residents in the county. Discussions are also underway with health organisations.

There are also plans to make sure rural areas are not left behind, and that small to medium sized businesses should also be helped to link up. Contact is being encouraged with community broadband access campaign groups to see where opportunities for partnership working might arise.

Cllr Neil Fawcett, Oxfordshire County Council’s Executive Member for Learning and Culture, said: “It has been good to see schools and libraries being installed with broadband and in six months time we hope to see the programme completed."

“The next stage of the broadband project is still under discussion and therefore nothing has been settled. But the ambition is there to make sure everyone feels the benefits of the Oxfordshire Community Network from urban to rural and large to small business."