The average speed of data transfer in the city is 3.86Mbps, considerably higher than the national average of 2.62Mbps. This means that users of mobile broadband devices can access data, websites and multimedia quickly and easily in Peterborough, making work and leisure activities online more efficient and fun.

The survey was conducted by mobile and broadband comparison website, Top10.com. The company has produced an app for smartphones that allows users to test the download speed of data in different locations. Thousands of users have tested mobile broadband services across the country and the results have been complied to create the rankings.

Martyn Moore, director of NorthLight Media, a video production company in Peterborough, said, “This is great news for the city. Fast mobile internet access can make a huge difference to doing business efficiently. We use mobile devices to view, create and edit multimedia projects and to know that this can be done on location or at a client’s premises without having to rely on wires is excellent. It’s another powerful advantage to doing business in this great city.”

The slowest 3G mobile broadband service is in Milton Keynes with just 1.73Mbps.

Representatives of Radio Peterborough have applied to Ofcom – the broadcasting regulator – to approve a licence for the station, which will operate throughout this year’s Peterborough Festival.

Not only will the not-for-profit Radio Peterborough entertain and inform local people, it will also aim to educate, promote social well being and foster community cohesion.

Organisers want to launch a trial 28-day broadcast from 26 June to coincide with the start of the city’s festival which is organised and promoted by Peterborough’s new culture and leisure trust, Vivacity and supported by Peterborough City Council.

Radio Peterborough is set to be the official radio station for the festival and will promote the programme of arts and entertainment events happening across the city.

A number of further trial broadcasts are due to take place in order to lay the ground for the long term development of the project, which it is hoped will eventually lead to the establishment of a permanent community radio station for Peterborough.

The faces behind the project are Wayne Fitzgerald and Peter Tibbs who both have significant experience in broadcasting. Peter is a well known local DJ and radio presenter. He previously worked for LITE FM and the former GWR Group. He is also involved with a number of community radio stations across the country and provides weekly programmes to them from his home studio in Orton Waterville.

Wayne founded LITE FM and is an experienced and respected broadcaster. He is a councillor for North Bretton ward and is actively involved in a number corporate and charity bodies such as Cross Keys homes and the Cressett. He also has a number of business interests in the city.

Mr Fitzgerald said, “We want this to be a truly community station for Peterborough and need to hear from anybody who wants to be involved in this exciting project. It would be great if we could bring on board a number of partners from the many communities in Peterborough.

“There are opportunities for individuals in both the public and private sector to get involved and we are also looking for members for our emerging board of directors to help develop this community initiative.

“Additionally, we want to hear from anybody who wants to contribute to programmes on the station or have ideas they want to be put forward.”

In the longer term, Radio Peterborough has ambitions to establish a ‘radio academy’ which will train local people of any age who have an interest in broadcasting and the media. Organisers hope this will equip many with new skills in areas such as news gathering and reporting, programme production and presentation.

If you would like to be involved in Radio Peterborough, please email: info@radiopeterborough.co.uk or wayne.fitzgerald@radiopeterborough.co.uk or peter.tibbs@radiopeterborough.co.uk or telephone 01733 704123 (Monday to Friday 9am till 4pm)

Peterborough has a long tradition in specialist media with companies like Emap (now Bauer), Dennis, Warners, Kelsey, the BBC and Johnston Press attracting publishing talent to the area. As a result, lots of smaller, even more specialised businesses have been set up in the area.

The Specialist Media Show has been created to celebrate media innovation and bring specialist publishers together to share ideas. Peterborough is a natural home for this kind of show, which is now attracting professionals from across the UK and overseas.

Carolyn Morgan, media consultant and content director of The Specialist Media Show, said, “Peterborough is perfect for an event like this. It already has a huge media community and the city is easy to reach for publishers in other parts of the country.

“The specialist sector includes thousands of independent publishers and I think these are going to be the people who shape the future. It’s about really rich print, online and event content and these are the people who have it.”

Results from the biggest specialist media survey ever undertaken will be revealed at the Specialist Media Show. Findings are expected to provide valuable insight into: the future of consumer magazines; B2B magazine circulation trends; paid-for B2B events; mobile devices; online B2B consumption and consumer attitudes to paid content.

The full results of the 2010 Future of Specialist Media survey and a debate about its findings are being presented at The Specialist Media Show 2010. The show takes place at Exec Peterborough on May 25.

The organisers have described the event as: “an interactive gathering of the brightest brains in content creation and delivery, including many businesses providing the sector with essential products and services for traditional and new media”.

In addition to providing an opportunity for specialist media publishers and suppliers to network and showcase their talents, the show will also host the Specialist Media Pioneer Awards. The awards will recognise the achievements of pioneering and innovative specialist publishers.

Anyone can put forward suggestions for nominations and among the titles already nominated are:

• Althletics Weekly for its subscriptions iPhone app.
• Cricketworld.com for Cricket World Live.
• TheFrenchPaper, a monthly newspaper for ex-pat Brits in France.
• MyHobbyStore for its events and online retailing.
• Racing Post for its online subscriptions.

Carolyn Morgan, media consultant and co-founder of the Specialist Media Network and Show, said, “Specialist media owners have always been close to their communities, so they have an advantage in understanding what content is considered valuable. Independents are prepared to innovate and experiment with all the new media channels now available, and we want to celebrate their entrepreneurial spirit, and inspire others to emulate their success.”

For more information go to: www.thespecialistmediashow.com