SARA Beachley is donated a Broadband Internet
Connection by BT.
A visit to the SARA Beachley station by Huw Edwards MP (right centre) and Owen Evans, BT (Centre Left)
Offical Press release follows:
March 2003
MONMOUTHSHIRE BUSINESS BENEFITS
FROM 'PEOPLE POWER' SCHEME
Chepstow exchange goes live for broadband
One of the UK's flagship 'trigger scheme' broadband communities goes live today. To mark the occasion, BT Openworld will provide free business broadband access to its first customer, The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA), based in Chepstow.
With broadband access, Ed Sawkins and his fellow 30 volunteers at the Beachley
Lifeboat Station will be able to work more effectively using the web. The high-speed
internet connection will be used to install a messaging service, where volunteers
on call will be alerted to emergencies via a paging system. This had not been
possible with dial-up access, as instant message delivery could not be guaranteed.
Broadband will also allow the support team to deal effectively with suppliers,
as an 'always on' connection means more information will be sent easily over
the internet.
Under the 'trigger scheme' programme, customers on exchanges without ADSL availability
can register their interest in getting broadband. Once the 'trigger' level is
reached, BT will start the exchange enabling process.
From today, people served by the Chepstow exchange will have access to the full
"Broadband from BT" product portfolio. Home users can sign up to BT
Openworld's full internet package - Home 500 Plug & Go - which includes
email, the ability to construct a website and free email virus/spam protection.
Alternatively, customers can opt for BT Retail's "no frills" product
which simply offers access to the internet. For local businesses, BT Openworld's
extensive business product and services range is also available.
Customers who order before March 31, 2003 can also take advantage of special
offers and savings announced by BT in January. These measures could save home
users up to £100 on their start up costs, and businesses up to £260.
Full details are available at www.btopenworld.com/broadband.
Duncan Ingram, managing director at BT Openworld, said: "For Broadband
Britain to happen, it will need the support of the public. Chepstow is a great
example of an area that wanted high-speed access and made it happen. With this
type of support, we can really deliver on our commitment to bring broadband
to communities."
Ed Sawkins at The Severn Area Rescue Association said: "As the lifeboat
crews and support team consist of volunteers with regular day jobs, it's imperative
that we're all ready to respond to emergencies that could happen at any time.
Using broadband internet, we'll be able to quickly page whoever's on call safe
in the knowledge they'll be promptly alerted. Although we could have initiated
this using a dial-up connection, slower internet speeds would have meant delays
in delivery that could have ultimately endangered lives."
Huw Edwards, MP for Chepstow, said: "People in Chepstow have campaigned
hard for broadband and can now reap the rewards. The fact that BT has brought
this technology to businesses and individual users in the area is down to the
enthusiasm and commitment of the local community."
SARA's Beachley station is situated under the Severn Bridge, on the spur of
land between the Rivers Severn and Wye. It is ideally located to cover the water
between Sharpness to the north, down to Avonmouth and Newport in the south.
The Rivers Avon, Usk and Wye are all part of the operational area.
Notes to Editors
About SARA
The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) is an inshore rescue boat and land
search organisation covering the Severn estuary and upper reaches of the River
Severn. SARA is the largest independent lifeboat service in the UK, second only
to the RNLI, with eight operational boats and approximately 150 personnel. SARA
currently operates from three stations. These are located at Beachley, near
Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Sharpness in Gloucestershire and Upton-Upon-Severn
in Worcestershire.
About BT Openworld
BT Openworld, BT's mass market internet division, is one of the UK's leading
internet service providers.
It delivers broadband and narrowband services to more than 1.7 million business and consumer customers in the UK through www.btopenworld.com.
The company offers a wide range of internet access packages and payment options. Broadband packages include: BT Openworld Home 500 Plug & Go and Business 500 Plug & Go - self-install broadband products. Other products cover a choice of download speeds, from up to 500kbps, to up to 2Mbps, single or multi-user set-ups for PC or Mac, and static or dynamic IP addresses. BT Openworld also provides broadband over satellite for business users.
Narrowband products include: BT Openworld Anytime, BT Openworld Surftime, BT Openworld Connect Anytime - designed specifically for business customers, and Pay-as-you-go services.
BT Openworld also provides additional value-added services to business users, such as Wireless LAN, Teleworker and Web Design solutions.
BT Openworld is developing a range of applications and services available to its own customers and those of other ISPs.
In the past year, BT Openworld has launched various sites aimed at computer gamers, music fans, classical music lovers and sports and betting enthusiasts: www.gamesdomain.co.uk, www.dotmusic.com, www.btopenworld.com/classical and www.btopenworld.com/sport. These provide a mix of free and subscription based services.
For further information contact Tony Henderson, head of media relations,
BT Openworld: 020 7469 2363
www.btopenworld.net
Or
Dan Faulks,
OCTANE, the PR agency:
020 7802 2662
email: danf@octanepr.com
News Item added 24/5/2003