Author wrote:
Dear Jane: We have the same kinds of problems here in the U.S. too.
I live 3.5 miles from Abilene....and was on the "end" of the line for telephone service with Southwestern Bell. As a result, my dial-up speed was "slow," yet the phone company did and has been charging me "mileage" fees for years to be their customer.
Along came the internet and dial-up connectivity from a local Internet Service Provider...and for about another $15.00 a month I could access the internet from my home, using the copper telephone line. To top it off, I learned that people in town could get 56K service for less money than I had to pay. My normal connection speeds were awful.
Then we heard about DSL...but I couldn't get that from the phone company, either.
So we started looking. And found out about Wireless Internet.
So I decided to see if it will work. The technician came and installed a radio receiving antenna, ethernet cabling, modem and LinkSys. The receiving antenna has to have an open, direct line of sight to the sending antenna. No obstructions. No hills in between or trees either.
Well, to make a long story short....it's finally working, after two weeks of not being a very happy camper. I had to change antennas to get the signal strength that's required to use the internet. Then had some changes to make with the computer itself......But I think it's going to work now.
I don't have to rely on the old "copper-wire" telephone company, don't tie up a phone line, internet is on 24/7 unless I shut the computer off and IT'S SO FAST! Pages usually open in about 5 seconds, so far. It's also, not cheap, too.
Will see how it works as time passes...but wireless internet is the way things are heading.
All the Best,
Burkie

Author wrote:
The so-called digital divide that excludes rural communities from the benefits of broadband access could be overcome by using a combination of wireless networks and satellite receivers.
A new project aims to bring high-speed internet connections to rural areas of England and Scotland. The system could benefit rural economies and the market for satellite technologies.
The disparity between rural and urban areas with regard to internet accessibility still affects most European countries. What is commonly known as the digital divide can considerably hamper economic development.
As well, enterprises wishing to relocate to the countryside are currently hindered in continuing their business due to the fact that broadband access – ADSL or fibre – is often simply unavailable.
As a potential solution, the European Space Agency (ESA) has sponsored Avanti Communications of the UK, France’s Eutelsat and Rural Solutions, also from the UK to develop ‘Broadband Access for Rural Regeneration with DVB-RCS’ (BARRD).
The project began last June and is currently in a planning phase. A trial is about to take place involving 24 UK business parks, each averaging five end-users.
In practical terms, a two-way satellite connection and Wireless Local Area Network (LAN) need to be seamlessly combined. The fact that both technologies are standard platforms adds enormously to the low cost. Wireless LAN hardware is cheap and generally available for installation at computer stores. Benefits are quick and easy installation with no need for a physical cable connection.
The end result will be that instead of each end-user purchasing their own digital video receiver, BARRD makes it possible for one terminal to be shared among a group of users, making the system cost effective. Connection is possible within a range of 2 km.

Reference URL
http://www.esa.int/export/esaSA/SEMZBU0P4HD index 0.html