Three UK Offers Free Mobile Broadband to Rural Villages

Mobile network, Hutchison 3G UK (Three) and the rural affairs lobbying group, the Countryside Alliance, have jointly launched a project aimed at getting people online in rural areas of poor or non-existent broadband.

Called the Rural Broadband Working Group, the initiative will see the operator work with local politicians and the Countryside Alliance to identify rural broadband 'not-spots' and give away around 4m MBs of free connectivity, alongside the dongles and MiFi's needed to get people online. The first wave of activity will see the group working with local political influencers to identify eleven rural communities, and to provide free mobile broadband data and devices for a year. In addition, free public access will be provided in communal areas such as pubs and community centers using a MiFi device.