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Broadband could be set for sheltered housing schemes
Wednesday 13th January 2010, by Daniel King
Almost 20,000 people currently living in sheltered accommodation could soon have access to a broadband internet connection as part of a £2.9 million government scheme.
Among them will be a significant number of older people - of which two-thirds in sheltered housing have no internet access.
The Get Digital programme is designed to allow those in sheltered housing to enjoy the social benefits that super-fast broadband can bring, as well as increased economic opportunities.
Over the next 14 months, Get Digital aims to work with 195 sheltered housing schemes to get people online and develop shared facilities which could be used by any of the 600,000 Britons in such residences.
The project will also provide tutors who will work with people to improve their understanding of the internet - and possibly the benefits of having a top-of-the-range broadband connection.
Communities minister Lord McKenzie said: "For thousands of people this programme could be truly life changing. Older people who currently don't have access to the internet miss out on the benefits that millions of us enjoy everyday."
He suggested that internet access could allow people in sheltered housing to speak more easily with friends and family, shop online and take advantage of services.
Of the sheltered housing schemes Get Digital is set to work with, 81 are in rural and out-of-touch areas.
The government last week announced that it is to spend £1 billion on a "world-class" broadband network, featuring fibre-optic cables, so that the whole of Britain - and especially those in rural regions - have access to the latest internet technology.
Categories: Broadband
