The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced a new free Wi-Fi service for troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The first step of the programme, dubbed Project Mercury, will boost the number of telephones and computers by December 2007. Rollout of the wireless access will follow, and is expected to be finished by spring of next year.
Secretary of State for Defence, Des Browne, said: "I am delighted that our brave service personnel deployed on operations in Iraq or Afghanistan will soon have access to free wi-fi internet access. This will make it even easier for our Armed Forces to stay in touch with their loved ones back home while they continue their tremendous work in bringing stability to Iraq and Afghanistan."
The internet access is in addition to the Operational Welfare package, which gives armed forces TVs, DVD players, radios and 30 minutes of free phone calls anywhere in the world.
