| BEER AND BROADBAND INITIATIVE SERVES UP TOP AWARD FOR SHEPHERD NEAME
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Britain's oldest brewer Shepherd Neame is celebrating after winning an award for an initiative in partnership with specialist wireless network provider Telabria which brings wireless broadband technology to rural communities via village pubs.
Shepherd Neame won the technology award in Kent's annual Business Awards for the company demonstrating the best use of IT.
The brewers teamed up with Telabria in 2003 to transform traditional village pubs into technological hubs of communication by bringing cutting-edge technology to the Kent villages Doddington, Wye and Bridge. The pubs in these areas piloted a scheme, called RuralMesh, where broadband is not currently available.
The RuralMesh scheme allows customers to log on to the Internet wirelessly at high speed using laptops or handheld computers.
Once the scheme is rolled out in the community, local businesses and residents subscribing to the service for use in their own office and homes will pay a competitive subscription rate to Telabria each month for unlimited access, which is competitive with monthly rates currently being charged in urban areas by other providers.
Says Shepherd Neame operations manager Nigel Bunting, "The technology that Telabria offers gives us an opportunity to improve communications for rural communities. The beer and broadband initiative has been proved to be a huge success and we're delighted it has been recognised.
"In our view this initiative, together with the opening of post offices in a number of pubs, has enabled our pubs to remain the hub of village life."
For more details about the initiative contact Nigel Bunting at Shepherd Neame on 01795 542169 or visit www.telabria.com
