Three ( 3 ) has announced a new project to help people in rural "not-spots" get on-line with 3's 3G mobile network. A "not-spot" is the term being used for an area where people in rural areas of the UK have poor or non existent broadband.

Three will be working with the Countryside Alliance and have set up a working group called the "Rural Broadband Working Group". The Group will be supported by local politicians and the Countryside Alliance and will confirm where rural broadband "not-spots exist and the Group will "give away" 4 Million Megabytes of free 3G mobile broadband connectivity. The only thing that residents of a chosen "not-spot" need to do is obtain a free 3G mobile broadband dongle or a MiFi device fron 3 ( Three ).

Initially, Politiicans and the Group will choose eleven rural communities and supply free 3G mobile broadband and devices for one year. Pubs, community centres etc will receive a free MiFi device which in turn connect up to five people with mobile broadband inside the building e.g. community centres.

The first village to receive free connectivity is Gringley-on-the-Hill in North Nottinghamshire. The village of around 750 people, has a pub, village hall, church and school but poor quality access to fixed line broadband services. Gringley-on-the-Hill is set to get around 30 mobile broadband dongles and MiFi devices. Some of these will provide access in the local pub and community centre.

David Dyson, CEO at Three said, "Thousands of communities still cannot access fixed line broadband services, but they do have access to a mobile broadband network, and that's where this new initiative comes in.

"We have built a network designed for the Internet and are passionate about using this to help more and more people experience the everyday benefits this can bring."