Broadband school project touted

Virgin Media is to set up free 'broadband schools' to educate Britons confused by internet and technology jargon.

The initiative comes on the back of a poll of 3,000 people which found that the average Briton is "baffled" when it comes to broadband.

According to the ISP (internet service provider) 18 per cent of those polled did not know what the term 'broadband' meant, while 40 per cent did not understand what ADSL broadband is.

ADSL, which stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line, is the most common type of broadband in the UK.

It uses a standard phoneline and is supplied through BT's communications infrastructure.

Virgin Media's Broadband Schools, to be set up in 10 areas in the UK, will tackle the alleged knowledge deficit on all things web related.

The company said it hoped to have drop-in centres "where the general public would be invited to pop in and ask questions they've always been too afraid to ask".

One prime candidate could be Sir Richard Branson, Virgin founder, who admitted he is not too wise when it comes to the web world.

"As many of you may know I've never been terribly technical and I'm not at all ashamed to say that I'm probably a prime candidate for a Broadband School," he said.

"I'm not alone. There are thousands of people in the same boat, and the only way they will ever learn is if things are kept simple," the billionaire added.

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