Streamyx Mail

The use of broadband technology has seen rapid growth in recent years, and for some it's proved to be vital to not just business, but on a much more personal level - allowing wider communication networks to be established and bring people closer.

But what about in areas where it may be impossible to integrate broadband? Difficulties in environment, such as mountainous regions, are one example of an environment which can cause problems when trying to lay the technology needed for such connections to be set up.

But as governments look to fund broadband projects in rural and isolated areas, the inhabitants of such areas now have the opportunity to establish connections in order to access a wide variety of resources - which could, in time, prove beneficial in areas such as trade and education - which would otherwise have proved difficult due to the isolation as a result of the area.

One such scheme has helped bring aboriginal communities in Taiwan closer to the outside world. Through government-backed project called the 'universal service obligation', the village of Shan-Mei - located in the country's mountainous central region - is home to over 700 people from the Tsou tribe.

The project was funded through contributions from the country's phone companies, whilst the fibre-optic technology required was funded by a subsidiary of Taiwan Mobile - one of the country's leading communication companies - which also provided the village with computers as well as training.

The introduction of broadband technology into the community has brought new opportunities, with local farmers now able to market and sell their produce online, whilst local businesses - such as hotels and restaurants - now have the opportunity to promote their services to a wider audience and help aid tourism to their region.

One area in particular in which cheap broadband technology has aided the villagers is education, allowing for long-distance education to ensure children in isolated areas don't miss out on traditional education, which would otherwise have been difficult to access due to location.

The people of Shan-Mei appear to have embraced the new technology with enthusiasm, with the newly-opened internet caf regularly packed, allowing for new opportunities for entrepreneurship, networking and socialisation - with the local primary school children utilising the new technology to create personal web pages packed with interests, pictures and favourites to reach out and communicate virtually with others.

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