Monks' prayers answered by wireless

A group of monks in Wales have been revealed to not just be internet savvy, but super-fast internet savvy, after having a 30Mbps wireless broadband connection installed by TFL Group.

The monks, on Caldey Island, support themselves by selling locally produced goods like perfumes and confectionary, and many of their sales take place online.

However, they were unable to get fixed-line broadband because of their non-mainland status and had to rely on a slow dial-up connection.

Pembrokeshire-based TFL Group stepped in to provide some divine wireless intervention, and now have a connection speed which is 250 times faster than before.

'Patience is one of the characteristics of monastic life,' said Father Daniel, Caldey Abbey's Abbot, 'but even the patience of the Brothers was being tested by our slow, dial-up internet service.'

What new technology the monks take up next remains to be seen, as with their new broadband they could have VoIP phones installed - assuming they have not taken a vow of silence of course.

Posted on: 2008-08-01, in: Broadband

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