Mancunians could soon have access to affordable city-wide wireless broadband, it has been reported.

The council intends to extend its award-winning Eastserve wireless broadband service to all residents in the city.

Eastserve was established at the start of the decade to address the shortage of copper cabling in east Manchester, which hindered the take-up of regular landline broadband.

Councillors are now seeking a joint venture partner from the private sector to expand the service to all parts of the city.

Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester council, believes the proposed joint venture will help Manchester become a "world-class digital city".

It would also ensure that all Manchester residents "can benefit from the opportunities being created by the digital world", he added.

According to new research from Gartner, the UK is expected to exceed 60 per cent broadband penetration by 2012, thanks in part to wireless technology.

Categories: Wireless Broadband

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