Hertford College, Oxford, which dates back to the 13th century, has moved into the hi-tech age.

The college has installed telephone and data points in all student rooms, becoming the first Oxford college to provide this level of Internet access.

Greg Jennings, IT manager at the college, said: "Previously we have had to install data points in student rooms on demand. At the start of the 1998/99 academic year, 47 students asked for an Internet access point to be installed in their room in the first week of term. "Last year 30 per cent of Oxford undergraduates owned personal computers and at Hertford this number was slightly higher at 40 per cent.

"More and more teaching material is being made available as web pages, and with students using the Internet as a key research tool, it is extremely important for students to have Internet access from their desks."

Molex Premise Networks installed the leading-edge cabling throughout the ancient buildings, 290 data points and 230 telephone points.