The Government has called Lancaster University "the UK's Centre of ICT Excellence" following the completion of an InfoLab21 project to install wireless broadband in a town in the Ukraine.

A team led by Professor Garik Markarian from the Department of Communication Systems at InfoLab21 installed the Slavutych Town Information Network as part of a UK Government funded programme to address the "Social and Economic Consequences of Nuclear Power Plant Closure Programme".

Slavutych was built to house workers evacuated after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986 but a lack of internet connectivity has hampered job creation.

Trevor Hayward, Deputy Head of the Global Threat Reduction Programme at the Department of Energy and Climate Change, said: "Lancaster University is, in the fullest sense, the UK's Centre of ICT Excellence and will, I am sure, remain at the forefront of ICT technological advancement for the long-term, although I am sure that Lancaster University will ensure "longterm" will happen in a much shorter time-frame."

He also praised Prof Markarian and his team of "young dynamic experts" who designed the system.

Professor Garik Markarian said: "Part of our role is to investigate how technology can improve people's lives. Every indication is that providing high speed access to the web and creating new, information based services, will advance the standard of living for all Slavutych residents and, more importantly, help to attract new businesses."

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http://www.infolab21.com/news_and_events/news/?article_id=713