Up to 9.2 million Britons are currently without access to the internet, a statistic that the government, assisted by UK employment organisation Remploy, is trying to improve by offering low-cost PCs to UK adults who are currently offline.
The scheme is part of the Race Online 2012 scheme and is currently subject to a 12-month trial. It will offer refurbished PCs for as low as £98, providing a flat-screen monitor, keyboard, mouse, warranty, dedicated telephone helpline and delivery, reducing cost by also running the open-source operating system Linux.
Remploy believes it can sell over 8,000 computers in 12 months, from 60 UK online centres and the company’s offices, where it already runs a computer recycling scheme.
Internet connections will be low-cost to users, utilising a 3G connection with costs around £9 per month, helping to save users as much as £560 a year by allowing them to perform tasks for relatively low cost.
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With the internet is playing such an important part in peoples lives, it’s great to see a government-backed initiative aimed at getting more Britons online. Old computers are finding new homes and playing an important part in connecting friends and family, providing access to the internet for people who would otherwise not be able to afford it.
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