Free mobile broadband is to be made available to 11 rural communities from mobile network 3.

The 11 villages are set to be offered free mobile broadband dongles and free internet access from 3 Mobile broadband in an attempt to give them an internet connection that they can use. For the next 12 months the residents of the 11 remote villages will have access to free internet access courtesy of 3 mobile.

3 Mobile said that they are doing this to help fulfil the governments pledge that everyone in the UK will have access to the internet by 2012 with their “Race Online 2012″ scheme. They will also be keen to show how 3G mobile broadband is a viable and useful option for those struggling with traditional wired internet to get them selves online.
Some cynics believe that it is more to do with buttering up the government to get themselves some of the wireless spectrum.

Hugh Davies, Three’s director of corporate affairs, told the BBC:

“We hope to demonstrate that mobile needs to be a crucial part of the strategy to tackle notspots.”

Dave Dyson, Three’s Chief Executive, said:

“We’ve built the UK’s most extensive 3G network using high-frequency spectrum, if we gain access to low-frequency spectrum like 800Mhz we will be able to significantly improve both indoor and outdoor rural coverage for the UK’s smartphone and mobile broadband users.

Low-frequency spectrum on a network as big as ours is a real notspot-killer.”

The first place to benefit form the free mobile broadband is Gringley-on-the-Hill in North Nottinghamshire where a total of 30 mobile dongles and free data access cards will be offered. The remaining 10 locations are yet to be chosen.