Press Releases

January 30 2006

East Manchester in the world’s top intelligent communities

The Intelligent Community Forum, an international not-for-profit think tank, has included East Manchester in its annual list of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities of the world. Manchester, the only city in Europe to be recognised this year, shares the list with cities in United States, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China and Canada. Manchester secured its place on the list thanks to the work of Eastserve, a community based internet service provider, which, since it was established in 2000, has proved invaluable in ensuring greater access to the internet for the residents of East Manchester.

The competing communities were judged against five key indicators that define the competitive edge in a broadband economy. These include the accessibility of the internet via broadband, education, including all sectors of the society, encouraging innovation and economic development to attract new employment opportunities.

Sean McGonigle, New Deal for Communities co-ordinator said: "It's very pleasing that Manchester, the birthplace of the computer, should have made this prestigious list. Eastserve, is the largest IT community based project of its kind in Europe, and over the last three years 3,500 computers have been supplied to East Manchester residents homes and over 1,800 people have been connected to the Eastserve wireless broadband network. Thanks to £1.5 million of funding from the NWDA, we are now assisting a further 1,700 residents in Miles Platting, Ancoats, Newton Heath and Gorton to get on-line."

"Access to computers, ability to connect to the internet and standard of website information provided through Eastserve has transformed East Manchester in terms of ICT (information communication technology). Bringing the internet to a deprived community can have a dramatic effect on educational attainment and increase employment opportunities for the local people as well as helping the community to communicate in a completely different way with other residents or statutory services." He added.

In their report, the Intelligent Community Forum states "at first glance Eastserve is a web portal, little different government or neighbourhood sites in thousands of communities. What sets it apart is the way in which it was implemented and the skills of the developers in meeting so many different goals".

Complete profiles of the Top Seven Intelligent Communities for 2006 are available on the ICF website www.intelligentcommunity.org.

For as little as £6 per month, East Manchester residents can sign up to a package which includes fast speed, always on broadband connection and training, a support centre, low cost repairs and a rapidly developing website that provides a range of services and information to residents and includes, amongst other things, well used forums, a range of interactive services and free e-mail. If a resident does not own a computer they can access either a recycled or new one through Eastserve for a reduced cost ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to bridge the digital divide. For more information about Eastserve click on www.eastserve.com or call 0161 231 9580.