History of Cybermoor
Cybermoor was setup in 2001 after successfully bidding for an innovative government initiative ‘Wired-up Communities’ to connect disadvantaged communities to the internet. Alston Moor was selected because of its rurality and the distance that people had to travel to access basic services.
Cybermoor provided free computers and internet access for nearly 800 residents and free internet access for households, adaptive equipment for people with disabilities, a comprehensive and an award winning community run website. This was supported by an intensive programme of training and community engagement. It also kick started Cybermoor’s journey to establish a hybrid wireless and fibre broadband network for the residents and businesses of Alston Moor and other rural areas and establish Cybermoor as the UK’s first community broadband cooperative.
A key aim of the Cybermoor project was to promote social inclusion through ICT and develop skills associated with broadband access to generate employment opportunities for local people and to promote economic inclusion.
Over the years, Cybermoor has evolved to deliver other trading activities, including:
- Upgrading a significant part of the Alston Moor broadband network to fibre optic.
- Providing a testbed for innovative services and
- Delivering assisted living, telehealth and telemedicine
- Providing support to both existing and new social
- Providing support to other communities to develop innovative technology services based on the lessons from our learnt experiences.