Norfolk Open Link is the only network in the UK that offers free mobile internet access for public sector employees, the business community and the general public.  This £1.1 million two-year pilot project, running from August 2006 to April 2008 to evaluate the impact and potential of mobile technology, is managed by Norfolk County Council and is fully funded by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).

Patrick Hacon, Chairman Norfolk County Council said: "We are very excited about the possibilities that Norfolk Open Link presents for the county. The pilot project will aim to harness the potential wireless technology can have in enhancing the delivery of our public services and stimulating business and private use of wireless technologies."

The network covers most of Norwich city centre, to a 4km radius from County Hall, as well as key sites to the east and west of the city: Broadland Business Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich Science Park and Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital.  More than 200 small aerials have been fixed to lamp posts to create the network, with the main internet connection on top of County Hall.

Overcoming rural isolation

Later this year, Norfolk Open Link will be extended to up to 28 rural locations in the South Norfolk Council area, making it the first wireless broadband network to pilot both rural and urban locations.

Eppie Zandvoort, South Norfolk Council's Cabinet Member for the Economy said: "When the network spreads to South Norfolk later this year, we will be able to offer connectivity to more people and offer a giant technological leap over the barrier of rural isolation that affects so many."

21st century midwives

Public sector services like health, education, police, fire, public transport and social services will be developing a range of projects to help evaluate the system. The network will provide more opportunities for mobile and home working, helping staff to access information on the move. It will also aid collaboration between organisations.

The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH) is working on a project to use wi-fi technology to help community midwives in their day-to-day jobs.

Andrew Stronach, Head of Communications Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust said:  "Our project involves giving wi-fi enabled laptops to two community midwives so they can pick up their email whilst working out in the community. The other major benefit will be for the midwives to be able to input the information from their visits to pregnant women into the laptop and then securely upload the information to the NNUH. The big benefit for community midwives will be having to spend less time making trips to the hospital in order to enter patient information or access email."

A boost for business

The project gives small Norwich businesses and the general public the chance to trial a wireless system free of charge. A portal page on Norfolk Open Link's website, linking to tourism websites, will boost the local visitor economy.

The project is not allowed to compete with commercial wi-fi services, so the access speed for businesses and the public has been set at 256 kilobits per second, with public sector staff accessing at 1mb per second. Each session has also been limited to an hour.  

John Snyder, EEDA board member, said: "The city now has a twenty first century infrastructure which will allow it to exploit the opportunities offered by mobile digital technologies to the full. Assisting in the development of new innovative Information Communications Technologies (ICT) in the East of England is one of EEDA's key priorities. The launch of Norfolk Open Link will bring many benefits to businesses and individuals living and working in Norwich. "

Alex Jadavji, Synetrix Chief Executive said: "This is a hugely exciting project, with massive implications, not just for the public sector, but for every citizen in the country."

Norfolk Open Link's website www.norfolkopenlink.com, provides information on the network area and how to access the service. Anyone with a wireless enabled laptop, personal digital assistant (PDA) and internet enabled mobile phone will be able to use the network.