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Broadband Connection Finally Gets To Island Monks

The 15 monks who live in the monastery on Caldey Island have been relying on sales of their perfume, sweets and books for years, to help support their community. They started an online shop five years ago, without broadband, and sales have improved 100% since then but they have always been hindered by a lack of broadband, relying only on a slow dial-up connection. With BT claiming they wouldn't be able to provide conventional broadband to the island, the monks thought they were doomed to dial-up forever, until a Pembrokeshire-based telecommunications specialist came to their rescue with an offer of broadband. TFL Group has installed a wireless broadband network that reaches out to the island from one of their communications towers on the mainland. The wireless broadband allows speeds of up to 30Mbps, with the possibility of upgrading to broadband speeds of 100Mbps.

Speaking of the effect that broadband has had on the community, Father Daniel, the Abbot of Caldey, said, "Patience is one of the characteristics of monastic life, but even the patience of the Brothers was being tested by our slow, dial-up internet service. Broadband access has made a huge difference to our internet usage.� TFL Group Director Jonathan England commented, "BT's conventional broadband service effectively stops at Tenby Harbour and is unable to cross the short stretch of water to Caldey. In these situations, wireless broadband can be delivered simply, quickly, cost-effectively and with minimal disruption."�

13/08/2008
Author: CompareBroadbandUK staff writer

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