Telematics in Local Economic Development: The Case of Manchester

This article examines the implications of the convergence of information technology (IT) and telecommunications into ‘telematics’ for local economies. Despite the crucial importance of such technologies for local economic development, there is increasing evidence that engagement with such technologies is uneven, both between areas and within areas. Peripheral and underdeveloped areas may lose out to the core areas and certain communities and types of firm may be disadvantaged. Several local economic development agencies and authorities have identified telematics development as a key area for strategic intervention. This article investigates the issues involved in such strategies and provides details from a Manchester‐based project ‐the Manchester Host computer network.