Anglican Church helps rural England have access to the internet with church spires

[EmperorScorpious]

[quote]They are cherished landmarks of the English countryside: church spires soaring heavenwards. Often visible for miles around, and many dating from medieval times, they now have a new purpose – to facilitate virtual communication in the internet age.

Following an agreement between the Church of England and the government,[B] churches in internet black spots are set to boost broadband, mobile and wifi connectivity for local communities.[/B]

[B]Under the deal, rural churches will incorporate wireless transmitters in spires and towers, plus aerials, satellite dishes and fibre cables. The arrangement will help people living and working in up to a million properties that cannot access fast broadband [/B]– many in small communities where there are few amenities apart from a nearby church. There are more than 10,000 rural Anglican churches in England.

The agreement could also help churches that are struggling with heavy maintenance and repair costs. [B]Income may be generated from deals with telecom providers, with “the potential for other mutually beneficial terms, to be agreed, such as sharing the cost of maintaining a church tower or spire on which equipment may be mounted,”[/B] the accord says.

The former prime minister, David Cameron, pledged more than two years ago that all UK homes and businesses would have access to fast broadband by 2020. “Access to the internet shouldn’t be a luxury, it should be a right – absolutely fundamental to life in 21st century Britain,” he said.[/quote]

[url]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/18/church-spires-spread-internet-rural-areas-broadband[/url]

[T553412]

That's...like, really smart and clever. I can see this working in countries with deficient Internet access

[coup]

Oh god, it begins. Bless the Machine God! Hail the Omnissiah!

[editline]17th February 2018[/editline]

Jokes aside, this is an incredibly great thing for them to be doing, and also incredibly clever too.

[Darkride196]

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;53139966][url]https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/18/church-spires-spread-internet-rural-areas-broadband[/url][/QUOTE]

In america they would be sued into the ground by comcast.

[Jon27]

English parishes were built with the Church spire being the tallest thing in the village. Often it would be built on a hill. I know a few places to which this would make a huge difference, and I'm sure there are many more. Great use of existing structures.