Residents of Newtonmore are being invited to a meeting in the Balavil Hotel at 7.30p.m. on Thursday (20th February) to discuss the setting up of a wireless broadband demonstration in the village.

This is one of six demonstrations being set up in the Highlands and Islands as part of a major campaign to enable straightforward and affordable high speed and always on internet access across the region.

The demonstration will include the installation of a wireless broadband network in each of the locations, providing always on internet access with downloading capacity of up to ten times faster than normal dial-up. This will enable a much wider variety of applications to be used.  Twenty participants in each location will form part of the initial network for the purposes of the demonstration.

The demonstration will enable local businesses and households to receive broadband by wireless technology, as opposed to fixed telephone lines, and experience first hand the convenience and benefits a broadband connection can bring.

Access will be free during the demonstration, which will last for three to six months, and thereafter will be subject to a flat rate monthly fee of around £30.

Representatives from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Moray Badenoch and Strathspey Enterprise (MBSE) and Boston Networks will be on hand at the meeting to explain the project in detail, discuss the aspirations of potential users and answer technical questions.

MBSE's e-business advisor, Stewart Macdonald, said:  "Newtonmore has been chosen as one of six locations across the Highlands and Islands where it is not possible to supply broadband via the normal route of ADSL lines.  The projects are designed to demonstrate that the technology can and should be made available to these areas and to test the methods and equipment.  To do this however we need around 20 potential broadband users to take part in the demonstration.  The meeting is to explain the project in detail and answer any questions people may have, either about the project or about broadband generally."