Rural Charente to get high speed internet by summer 2010

Description:

Often referred to as a digital divide, some 33,000 households in rural Charente are still without access to high-speed internet connections, with many struggling to do the simplest of things, such as viewing videos and images.

But all this is about to change.  At a meeting this week in the tiny commune of St Mary, close to Chasseneuil and Saint-Claud, Michel Boutant (president of the general council) and representatives from the company Alsatis announced plans to roll out wi-fi and wi-max technology to the remainder of Charente, ensuring 100% coverage by summer 2010.

The project will see new transmitters installed on pylons and water towers in those areas of Charente forgotten by the big internet providers, such as SFR, Orange, Free and others.  In all, 228 new transmitters will be installed by next summer.

First up is the area around Chasseneuil, followed by the greater Angouleme area, Ruffec, Champagne-Mouton and Saint-Claud.  In December, areas around Barbezieux, Baignes and Brossac will come online, followed in the new year by Chalais, Aubeterre, Villebois-Lavalette, Montbron, Confolens, Villefagnan and Aigre.

In spring Chabanais, Rochefoucauld, Saint-Amant-de-Boixe and Montmoreau will receive the improved coverage, with the Cognac area marking the end of the project.  Whilst Alsatis will not be the only provider on the new system, they will be offering 4Mb/s speeds for around 29,90€TTC per month.

See when your area gets the improved internet speeds by clicking here.

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