Free Broadband Service Coming to Sandgate for 2012

Following the Sandgate Community Trust's successful application for a £50,000 grant from Kent County Council I am delighted to tell you that communityUk has been chosen by the Steering Group to provide Sandgate with its WiFi broadband service. The monthly costs for this service will be:

• Up to 2Mbps FREE
• Up to 4Mbps £3.99
• Up to 8 Mbps £7.99

It is estimated that 70%-80% of Sandgate residents will get the free service when first set up. Trees and buildings can prevent signals getting to a property but there are ways to solve the problem - they just sometimes take a little longer to resolve.

The service provides residents with a superb gateway to the internet offering:

• Free Webmail (CUKmail)
• Support for learners of all ages (CUKlearning)
• An on-line employment/job-seeking system (CUKcareers)
• Local news and information
• Internet Radio (CUKradio)
• Social Networking (CUKsocial
• Support for small businesses through the CUKbiz channel
• CUKkids, comprehensive Channel for youngsters of all ages
• and much more

CommunityUK.net was the only company that offered a real community aspect to their broadband proposal plus their business model means that they can provide a free service with no set up or on-going user maintenance costs.

Sandgate has been divided into three zones and the first, the Valley, will be the first installation but it is expected that all three zones will be live by the end of the first quarter in 2012.

Sandgate will be one of, if not the first community in Kent to get a free broadband service and I hope you will agree that this is a very exciting development for Sandgate and a welcomed Christmas present.

The Sandgate Community Trust is a company limited by guarantee (7115575) and is a registered charity (1136479).