One of the B4RN Committee Team members, Chris Conder has been attending the Digital Agenda Assembly this week in Brussels. She is there not so much representing B4RN directly, (although I’m certain she will not let any opportunity pass to promote it), but in her capacity as a Rural Broadband Champion/Campaigner. She is holding the role as one of the “animators” which I think is some sort of moderator for the various workshops.

It would seem that many useful discussions have been had and many contacts been made. There has been much interest in the B4RN project. Earlier today Chris met for a chat with Neelie Kroes, the Vice President of the European Commission, responsible for the Digital Agenda for Europe. She has expressed interest in the past around what B4RN is doing and has also sent her support recently.

Here is a photo of Chris and Neelie taken earlier today.

Neelie Kroes and Chris Conder

Chris Conder enjoying a cuppa and a chat with Neelie Kroes
Thanks to Jelena Vasic for the photo

fibre bracelet photo

Majella O’Dea fastening the fibre bracelet onto Neelie’s wrist.

 

Neelie Kroes opens the Digital Assembly Plenary wearing the fibre bracelet

Neelie opens the plenary wearing the pink fibre from B4rn as a bracelet.

 

2 Comments

  1. Lindsey annison | June 24, 2012

    Neelie mentioned B4RN in the opening sentences of her keynote speech to an audience of over 1000 broadband policy makers, regulators, local authority representatives, incumbents, technology experts and broadband champions. This level of exposure, plus the recent announcement that B4RN is a finalist in the ISPA Hero Award, should give all those within the Lancashire community a huge sense of pride at what has been achieved already by working together and believing in B4RN.

  2. Demet | July 25, 2012

    Thanks, Chris. I certainly agree that ieescarnd fibre deployments in the last mile would certainly ease data congestion and lessen the need for content delivery networks. Indeed, it may also dampen the argument around a two-tier Internet. But even with ieescarnd fibre in the access, we will still see data congestion in the network’s core. Currently there is a bandwidth crunch from the first to the last mile. Service providers need to ensure that it’s not only the access tails that are improved.However, I personally don’t believe that ubiquitous fibre will see an end to discussions around a two-tier Internet. As I mentioned in the post, the two-tier Internet already exists. The key question is how we can evolve the Internet and our networks to ensure that the infrastructure supports new applications and innovation. Without some form of traffic management the high-bandwidth applications we all want to see develop will not be able to do so. Do you believe that a purely best-effort Internet can succeed?In regards to community networks, it was incredible to see the success of you and others in 2010. Thanks to your efforts rural broadband is taking some major steps forward. What are the key obstacles you see in 2011?Thanks,Gareth

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

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