Bristol is ready for Carter's Digital Britain…
June 15, 2009 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Bristol, Bristol City Council, News, Technology, Connecting Bristol, NGA , 16 comments
On the eve of Lord Carter’s final Digital Britain Report our latest city data shows that Bristol’s residents are ready and waiting… 3 in every 4 are already regular Internet users who have used the Web in the last week.
Residents are most likely to access the Web at Home (76% in the last 6 months), Work (48%) and in School/College/University (17%). Approaching one in six (13%) have accessed the Internet for FREE in one of Bristol’s Libraries.
A more detailed look at the data shows that men are significantly more likely to use the Internet at home than women (81% compared to 76%) although there is no significant difference in the number of men and women who say that they do not use the Internet.
Older residents are the most likely to say that they do not use the Internet, with 56% of those over the age of 65 saying this compared to only 2% of 18-34 year olds.
Those who do not work full time, disabled people and those who live in social housing are also all significantly more likely to say that they do not use the Internet.
15% of Bristol residents do not use the Internet at all.
Source = Bristol Place Survey 2008/9 (IPSOS MORI/Bristol City Council)
You can follow the Digital Britain announcement live here
What’s your average speed?
May 5, 2009 Posted by Bryn in : Bristol, Technology, Connecting Bristol, superfast broadband , 3 comments
Putting your megabit numbers into context ….
A study released in January 2009 by Ofcom revealed that the average broadband speed was just 3.6MB (megabits) per second. This is a fast enough connection to listen to audio and watch video, however over 60% of UK consumers currently subscribe to packages promising speeds of up to 8MB (megabits) per second.
Some other interesting facts (although hardly surprising) highlighted in the study are:
- Consumers in London received the fastest average speeds, with those in the north east of England, Wales and Scotland receiving on average the slowest speeds.
- On average, consumers living in urban areas receive speeds 15% faster than those in rural areas, largely because of distance.
- Speeds are slowest between 5pm and 6pm on Sundays, when use of the internet is at its highest.
- Most consumers say they’re reasonably happy with their broadband service - although speed is the most commonly cited cause of dissatisfaction.
So what’s your internet speed? Fast enough or are you due some more megabit action?
If you want to read the full Ofcom report it can be accessed here:
www.ofcom.org.uk/research/telecoms/reports/bbspeed_jan09
Next Gen Bristol 09
February 9, 2009 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Wireless, Bristol, Regeneration, South Bristol, Innovation, Technology, Next Generation Broadband, superfast broadband, NGA , 1 comment so far
Next Generation Access (NGA) networks offer the possibility of very high-speed broadband connectivity of a magnitude far greater than anything that has been widely experienced in the UK.
Sponsored by CBN and Alcatel Lucent and supported by Connecting Bristol. Next Gen Bristol 09 is a one-day event, which will be held in central Bristol on 31st March. Part of a national Roadshow of events, Net Gen Bristol aims to,
- Increase understanding of why high-speed broadband matters
- Identify the benefits of ‘open access networks’
- Explore how NGA can underpin city development, especially in South Bristol
- Showcase local projects
The programme is here
Book online here*
(*Places are charged at £50, including lunch. Connecting Bristol has 20 free places for individuals and organisations that wish to attend but cannot afford this. Email stephen.hilton@bristol.gov.uk for details)
Bristol Techno Footprint Green ICT - Workshop & Webinars
February 6, 2009 Posted by Stephen Hilton in : Bristol, Bristol City Council, Innovation, Technology, collaboration, Green ICT, Power of Information , 2 commentsWe are pleased to invite you to help finalise the Techno Footprint project.
What is a Techno Footprint?
In partnership with The Carbon Trust, Connecting Bristol and Bristol City Council Sustainable City Team have been working with ESD Ltd. to develop a way of understanding and visualising how business-use of ICT adds to local carbon emissions. We refer to this as the city’s Techno Footprint.
The Solutions Database
As part of the project, we have also created the Green ICT Solutions Database, an easy to use resource to help inform action planning for Green ICT.
Your Input
We now need your help to refine and check these outputs before we launch them more widely.
Register
We are holding a workshop and two Webinars for Bristol stakeholders. A third Webinar is aimed at DC10plus members and national partners.
Please use the links below to register for either the Bristol Workshop or one of the Webinars
Links
REGISTER for the Bristol Workshop (central location)
4th March 9.30am – 1pm including lunch
*Webinar
REGISTER for the 11th March 2pm
REGISTER -12th March 10am
*Webinar for DC10plus and national partners
REGISTER -18th March 10am
*Each Webinar will last for up to 1 hour. To participate you need a telephone and a computer with Internet access.