WIRELESS WINS THROUGH

Paul Cassidy, ICT co-ordinator at Castlemilk Economic Development Agency, really needs a head for heights. The base station for a community wireless facility he and Langside College have developed, is on the roof of one of the multi storey flats at nearby Mitchelhill on Cathkin Braes. 'The flats provide great coverage for the whole community and their height was one of the deciding factors in using this type of technology,’ said Paul.

Working closely with the College which was the lead funder of the project, Paul has been able to connect local organisations anywhere in the community into the internet network without the need for messy plugs, cables or expensive connections.

Two community venues already using the facility are Castlemilk Youth Complex and ADTEC, a project which develops people’s abilities. ‘ADTEC have registered almost 60 new users as a result of the speed and cost effectiveness of the wireless, broadband signal,’ said Paul. ‘They can access on-line learning and all the other facilities usually only available through ordinary plug-in, wired up, computers.’ There’s no saying what heights Castlemilk Wireless Service will reach now.