Digital Teesdale
For the latest news on the Digital Teesdale project please click here.
Please click here for The Digital Teesdale Leaflet.
The Digital Teesdale website is now live. Please click here to find out more. To contact service provider, Ask4, you can either telephone 0845 123 8710 (local rate), email support@ask4.com or text a callback request to 07797 800 545 (standard network rate).
Latest news ..... Latest news .....
A new support service is being introduced to help residents in Teesdale get connected to broadband.
To access the new support service, call Charlotte Stow on 07866 311 811. To contact the Internet Service Provider Ask4 directly to subscribe, please call 0845 123 8710.
Background to project:
The Digital Dale project, backed by Durham County Council in conjunction with One North East, is being led by Barnard Castle Vision in co-ordination with a number of local partners including South West Durham Enterprise Agency, Teesdale Action Partnership, Teesdale Village Halls Consortium, North Star Housing, local businesses and residents. Barnard Castle Vision has secured funding for the building, maintenance and operation of the network. The Digital Dale infrastructure was completed in September 2011. Details of how to get on to this service are as above.
Of the proposals tendered in early 2010, Networks By Wireless’s solution offers the most comprehensive and cost-effective coverage of the rural area currently available, utilising 3.5 GHz of licensed WiMax for client delivery covering all of Teesdale. The network will be maintained and operated by Network by Wireless together with their partner ISP.
In total, the project will connect a number of micro-enterprises and a wide variety of residential, community and business users. In addition, it is estimated that the project will offer public internet access to over 100,000 visitors per annum through WiMax technology, approaching 12,000 domestic residences will have access and 1000 commercial premises in Teesdale.
Beneficiaries include isolated farms and those communities which formerly had poor or no connectivity.
The Digital Dale project forms part of Barnard Castle Vision’s commitment to provide broadband services to as wide an area as possible across the dale, including remote rural communities.
A survey by Barnard Castle Vision and the Enterprise Agency for Wear Valley and Teesdale in 2008 found that there was great need for better connectivity in Teesdale. As well as identifying many areas of poor or no connectivity, it collated many responses from businesses and residents who wanted or needed better broadband in order to stay in the area. A Teesdale Action Partnership Needs Analysis in September 2009 also identified the key local issues limited by lack of broadband as Economic, Business, Education, Social Digital Inclusion, Health and Welfare.
Public access points - Barnard Castle Library has 6 internet PCs with 75% usage by residents (70%) and visitors (30%) during opening hours. The Tourist Information Centre has two public internet PCs and BT OpenZone wireless internet access. It is the only BT Wi-Fi OpenZone in Barnard Castle. The only other Wi-Fi hotspot in Teesdale is at Headlam Hall Hotel operated through the T-Mobile UK network.
BT exchange & broadband - The local exchange in Barnard Castle supports ADSL broadband up to 8Mb (depending upon distance from the exchange and the contract you have with your internet service provider). The exchange is due for an upgrade in 2010. You can check what level of service you should be able to receive at www.dslzoneuk.net/maxspeed.php.
Background - In 2003, TeesdaleNet (Teesdale Marketing, Teesdale Village Halls Consortium, Teesdale District Council and the Enterprise Agency) campaigned to bring broadband provision to Teesdale. TeesdaleNet mapped the Dale for suitable delivery methods, campaigned BT, liaised with One North East to access funding and equipment and supported the implementation of wireless broadband facilities by DurhamNet at Enterprise House in Barnard Castle and a pilot project throughout the Dale in association with the Village Halls Consortium. In 2004 TeesdaleNet created the gateway www.teesdale.co.uk.
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