Rural and mobile?

Mobile broadband is an issue for rural areas. With the rise in the numbers of iPhones, Androids etc. comes more demand for 3G and 4G connection technologies. At my home on Skye, I get a great mobile signal from Orange – unfortunately only 2G, with no prospect of an upgrade. There is some hope on the horizon, The EU has opened the bandwith available for mobile broadband to make it more affordable in rural areas.

What kind of use could rural businesses make of mobile broadband?
The tourism industry is well placed to take advantage of mobile broadband as many tourists will arrive with their iPhones and expect the same services as they get in the cities. Some examples from the apple AppStore. A quick check of the phone using the built in GPS identifies the nearest restaurants, a quick look at the menu and decide where to go. Many city restaurants offer discounts, downloaded to your mobile, rural restaurants can do this too. Craft shops could use this too to advertise themselves to visitors.

Business
For business use, access your company documents or database on the go, especially useful for the unexpected at a business meeting far from home. Contact clients -and colleagues – using skype or instant messaging. More and more business will expect immediate access to information on the go.
Then there’s the business that can be generated by developing your own app, this Guardian article discusses the benefits to developers (and to Apple) – hillwalking routes, identify that plant are possible opprtunities.

I’ve almost convinced myself to sign up for that iPhone – but still no 3G on Skye!

Developing eSkills... or not

The Scottish Government strategy - Scotland's Digital Future: A Strategy for Scotland is clear in the role of HIE:

During 2011, HIE is looking to provide additional support in the highlands and islands region to:

    * Improve connectivity (including the Highlands and Islands next generation broadband project (described in more detail in Chapter 5)

    * Provide ICT business and community support

    * Develop ICT skills and digital participation

    * Grow the ICT supply chain consistency

However looking at HIE’s website it is difficult to see any evidence for work in this area. Their skills development for business focuses on entrepreneurship and leadership. There are graduate programmes in ICT for graduates, but there is nothing to be seen to support the development of general ICT skills. The 2008 report clearly identifies the need for ICT skills within communities, it recommends development of ICT champions and buddy systems to develop skills, it also suggests that community groups develop ICT strategies or 5-year plans – I’m not convinced that many community groups would have the time, or the energy for yet another strategy.

HIE is in a period of change and has recently re-launched their website both of which may account for the lack of visibility on their website for more detailed information on what they are actually doing to support ICT development in the Highlands.