03
July
2014
|
23:00
Europe/London

Further areas to benefit from broadband East Riding

Thousands of homes and businesses across the East Riding of Yorkshire are set to benefit in the second phase of the multi-million pound Broadband East Riding project.

More than 20,000 premises in the Aldbrough, Beeford, Bishop Wilton, Bridlington, Burton Agnes, Burton Pidsea, Dalton Holme, Elvington, Flamborough, Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, Hornsea, Keyingham, Kilham, Langtoft, Leconfield, Leven, Market Weighton, Melbourne, Middleton on the Wolds, North Cave, Patrington, Pocklington, Stamford Bridge, Skipsea, Skirlaugh, Spurn Point, Tibthorpe, Watton, Wilberfoss, Withernsea BT exchange areas are included in plans for phase two and three of the roll-out, with work starting from July running in to the New Year.

Broadband East Riding will bring superfast fibre broadband - delivering speeds exceeding 24Mbps - to more than 42,000 homes and businesses in the East Riding of Yorkshire by December 2015. In addition, the project aims to ensure the whole area will have access to broadband speeds of 2Mbps or more. This will take into account the commercial roll-outs of communication providers with networks in the area.

This is exciting news for those living, working and learning in East Riding, as the boost to broadband speeds will bring new opportunities to home life, businesses and schools. Improved access will also bring social benefits to rural communities, supporting them to grow and thrive.

Councillor Jonathan Owen, deputy leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council and cabinet portfolio holder for transformation and strategic partnerships, said: “Delivering a project as far-reaching as Broadband East Riding is an excellent example of the public and private sector working together for the benefit of residents and customers.

“Both ourselves and BT are working in partnership to ensure our local communities benefit from high-speed broadband, which is essential is this digital age as technology develops and more and more business and social connections are made online.”

Councillor Jane Evison, cabinet portfolio holder for economy, investment and inequalities at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "I am absolutely delighted that we have been able to work with BT and other partners to improve broadband across our area.

“It is fundamental for our residents and businesses in this digital age that they can access the very best broadband services, it is important that local firms are able to make the most of the improved broadband and I am particularly pleased that we as a council are running a support programme to ensure this happens.

“This is truly the start of a new era in the East Riding and of course this announcement is just the first phase of the rollout, which will eventually benefit the whole region."

Broadband East Riding will build on BT’s commercial investment in the area already committed as part of its £2.5 billion overall commercial investment in UK fibre broadband.

BT is contributing £4 million towards the programme which, together with grants from BDUK of £5.57m, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) of £4.4m and East Riding of Yorkshire Council, will see a total investment of £14m by December 2015.

Tom Keeney, BT’s regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “We are now starting to reach into the heart of communities, both small and large, across the county that have so far been beyond the reach of high-speed broadband. The progress so far is all the more impressive given that we are laying a whole new network across a county covering roughly 930 square miles where around half the population live in dispersed rural communities.

“In the modern world, digital connectivity is as important as having access to electricity and running water. From children doing their homework to caring for our elderly population and from social media to e-commerce and home entertainment – fast broadband is the critical enabler.”

The new superfast network will be open to all communications providers on an equivalent basis. Households and businesses inside the project area will therefore benefit from a highly-competitive market, bringing greater choice and affordable prices from a wide range of service providers.

Faster speeds will boost the competitiveness of local businesses, helping them to find new customers and operate more efficiently. For business, it means quick and easy downloads, shorter upload times to get large documents and data to customers and suppliers and time and cost savings by enabling video conferencing and remote working.

To help businesses take advantage of all of the benefits that this new technology will bring, East Riding of Yorkshire Council is running a free business support programme, funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This programme will demonstrate the benefits of high-speed internet with targeted support and information to help businesses turn faster broadband speeds into business growth.

The business support that is available includes the guidance of a dedicated business adviser, providing one-to-one advice, external IT system diagnostic reports, providing an action plan to take forward, and various workshops covering a range of topics devised to help businesses get the most out of being connected and to stimulate growth.

Support is targeted primarily at eligible businesses, as defined by ERDF criteria.

At home, superfast broadband will enable people to run multiple bandwidth-hungry applications at the same time making gaming, watching BBC i-Player, using Skype to keep in touch with friends and family anywhere in the world, or downloading films and music much quicker and free from ‘buffering’ or screen freeze.

Many communities inside the project area will benefit from a host of new learning and development opportunities for local people as well as easier access to local authority and health services.

For up to date information on available business support and the roll-out, visit
www.broadband.eastriding.gov.uk.


ENDS


Notes to Editors:


For press/media enquiries, contact:
Mark Bateman, East Riding of Yorkshire Council Press Office: (01482) 391442
Or
Amy Walker, BT Regional Press Office on 07918 900209


About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of five lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2014, BT Group’s reported revenue was £18,287m with reported profit before taxation of £2,312m

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com.


About BDUK

Superfast Britain is a Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK. Run by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this investment helps businesses to grow, creates jobs and will make Britain more competitive in the global race. The portfolio is comprised of three elements:

  • £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017
    • £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities
    • £150m to improve quality and coverage of mobile phone and basic data network services
  • Administered on behalf of Government by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), Superfast Britain is transforming Britain by promoting growth, enabling skills and learning, and improving quality of life.

    For further information www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk

    ERDF
    Broadband East Riding is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf