BBC News Online: UK: Wales

Caravan crusade against digital divide

TeleCabana was originally developed by Antur Teifi, a west Wales enterprise agency, to help the farming community diversify and expand.

But now it also hopes to extend its service to other sections of rural communities.

Visiting the centre currently stationed at the Carmarthen Heritage Centre in west Wales, Welsh Assembly e-Minister Andrew Davies, said the scheme was an important part in the fight against a potential "digital divide".

"It is doing a great job in rural Wales to break down the barriers surrounding new technology by giving people the chance to develop skills they need to get better jobs, run their own businesses or simply to enjoy what the internet has to offer," he said.

"it is essential that rural areas of Wales are kept up to speed and in touch with the advances of new technology because it can bring many benefits...

"We don't want to see a digital divide developing in Wales."

Last year the UK government unveiled an initiative designed to close the gap between technology haves and have-nots and provide an annual snapshot of e-Britain.

It recommended setting up internet points in locations where people feel at ease, including pubs, community centres, post offices and bus and train stations.