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Digital Region Ltd.: Digital Region Transforms Super-fast Broadband Offering for the Digitally Excluded
[January 07, 2011]

Digital Region Ltd.: Digital Region Transforms Super-fast Broadband Offering for the Digitally Excluded


Jan 07, 2011 (M2 PRESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- South Yorkshire: Super-fast broadband pioneer Digital Region Ltd. (www.digitalregion.co.uk) and Box Top Solutions, Inc. (www.boxtop.tv), a leading Silicon Valley application developer, have today announced their agreement to trial BoxTop's unique application platform which transforms how broadband services are paid for and enables carriers and content providers to provide unconnected households with free super-fast broadband through their digital television.



The Android-based platform, dubbed FreeBand, is scheduled for its first market trial in the second quarter of this year on Digital Region's super-fast fibre network. The platform turns the existing 'user-pays' broadband model upside down by employing a unique software metering engine that enables entertainment companies, merchants, and providers of educational and government services to pay, on a dynamic basis, the bandwidth charges for end users in order to reach them. In effect this creates the world's first '0800' application for broadband access to the internet.

The FreeBand model creates a sustainable business cycle in which multiple providers are each able to pay for just a portion of the total monthly bandwidth charges required to reach new, unconnected customers. As a result, end users can benefit from free broadband and healthcare providers, local government, businesses and communities, amongst others, can reach those who previously had no broadband connection. In the UK alone there are approximately 10 million people who currently do not have internet access.


As a result the three most common reasons that consumers lack broadband internet access, or choose not to have it, are all resolved at once - the high cost of buying a computer, the non-intuitive experience it represents and the cost and long-term contract commitment demanded by today's broadband offerings. FreeBand eliminates the need for a computer by providing an Android-enabled device that connects to the user's digital television, creating an intuitive, easily understood internet experience.

Customers use a low-cost keyboard or mouse, or even their remote control, to navigate icons displayed on the television screen through which the customer may access provider-sponsored applications. Connectivity to the internet is provided by Digital Region through its super-fast fibre broadband service.

FreeBand's first and exclusive trial with Digital Region later this year is expected to enable previously unconnected users in South Yorkshire to access commercial offerings and governmental services including video, music, news, email, telehealth, distance learning, videoconferencing and social networking.

"This innovation is what Digital Region is all about and reflects why the project has been an important investment for the region. It has the potential to benefit all involved and could fundamentally change how many households get online," comments David Carr, CEO, Digital Region Ltd. "It will enable providers of services such as councils, healthcare, education and businesses to reach households who would otherwise remain unconnected, expanding the market for services and directly addressing issues of digital inclusion. What's more, this is commercially viable - end users will benefit from the wealth of choice that accessing the thousands of Android applications brings and providers can engage with a far broader audience. We are extremely excited to work with BoxTop on such a significant trial, and proud to ensure Digital Region meets the challenge of the Digital Promise.

"We understand what it takes to launch a groundbreaking broadband solution," adds Carr. "The BoxTop deployment will deliver an exceptional end-user experience that will truly benefit our communities and generate new revenue streams in the process." "Box Top is very pleased to be working with such a visionary and socially committed carrier as Digital Region on this trial. Not only will this initiative open the doors of online opportunity for those currently unserved in South Yorkshire, but we believe will serve as a model for other communities globally who need to connect the unconnected, do so in a cost effective manner and not sacrifice on speed, quality, or user experience," said Box Top founder, Thomas Sachson.

About Digital Region The Digital Region broadband platform operates on a fibre-optic network based on next-generation Very High-Speed Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL technology) via fibre to the street cabinet (FTTC). The technology is capable of delivering an average of 25Mbit/s bandwidth with guaranteed quality of service. Digital Region is a supplier of next-generation broadband, and connection to the network will be sold in an open, wholesale and independent basis to internet service providers.

Digital Region is one of the UK's key digital transformational projects. It is advancing the progress of the Digital Britain agenda and positioning South Yorkshire at the forefront of digital communications by providing an unrivalled level of high bandwidth broadband access to households and businesses in the region.

It has the potential to become the largest open-access broadband infrastructure platform in the world, and is already enabling a multitude of advanced applications at home, in business and across the public sector, transforming communications, entertainment and business activities across the region.

The initiative is driving a cultural and economic step change by enabling residents, businesses and public sector organizations in South Yorkshire to benefit from services delivered over a world-class broadband infrastructure.

Further information Digital Region can be found at http://www.digitalregion.co.uk.

Yorkshire and The Humber ERDF Programme 2007-2013 The European investment in Digital Region is delivered through the regional ERDF Programme, which was approved in December 2007 and launched in February 2008.

The programme is managed on behalf of a regional partnership including the National Government, European Commission and Regional bodies.

The programme provides EUR583 million from the European Regional Development Fund to invest in the region by 2013 with EUR271m for South Yorkshire and EUR312m for the rest of the region. South Yorkshire has extra resources to help with its transition from its earlier Objective 1 status.

European Regional Development Fund The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) was set up in 1975 to stimulate economic development in less prosperous regions of the European Union (EU) and to act as a significant instrument with which the EU can support its Cohesion Policy.

As EU membership has grown, ERDF has developed into a major instrument for helping to redress regional imbalances. The Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) manages ERDF in England.

Between 2007 and 2013, England benefits from an investment of EUR3.2 billion (approx GBP2.5 bn) of ERDF. It is delivered by regional programmes in each English region, managed by the Regional Development Agency. England also receives EUR177 million ERDF for two national cross-border co-operation programmes with France, Flanders and the Netherlands and another EUR193.8 million is available to the United Kingdom for participating in three trans-national co-operation programmes across the North West Europe, North Sea and Atlantic areas.

ERDF is directed at projects offering substantial benefits that meet the needs of an area and would not take place without a grant. It is used to provide help towards the project costs with grants set at a minimum level required to allow the project to go ahead. As a general rule, however, the EU contributes no more than 50% of the eligible cost with the rest of the funding, known as 'match funding' coming from other public sources.

Information about the European Union's support for regions policy is available at www.ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/index_en.htm About Box Top As the world leader in Android enabled toll-free web application systems, Box Top is a software services company that is committed to providing free broadband to "connect the unconnected" and to give providers a means of differentiating their content and products for the already connected. Further information on Box Top can be found at http://www.boxtop.tv.

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