Halton speeding ahead with 96% high-speed fibre broadband coverage
Halton speeding ahead with 96% high-speed fibre broadband coverage
Connecting Cheshire has now reached more than 7,500 additional homes and businesses premises across Halton giving them access to high speed fibre broadband, taking the area’s total coverage to 96 per cent.
To date 43 additional new roadside fibre cabinets have been installed in Halton by Connecting Cheshire, a Partnership between Halton, Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East and Warrington Borough Councils and BT.
Investment has been made throughout the borough, covering Runcorn, Widnes and more rural areas such as Hale and Moore.
When commercial companies’ rollouts are added to the Connecting Cheshire additions to the network in Halton, the combined fibre broadband coverage for Halton is 96 per cent of premises.
To check availability in your area you can visit the Connecting Cheshire website and enter a postcode or a telephone number - www.connectingcheshire.org.uk/check-availability
The Leader of Halton Council, Cllr Rob Polhill, said: “The additional broadband coverage we have brought to Halton is already making a big impact and helping to keep our businesses competitive, including Astmoor Industrial Estate.
“More coverage is coming soon in our phase two roll-out so that we can reach even more premises, especially those in our industrial areas, I urge everyone to check their availability and upgrade to superfast broadband as it offers many fantastic benefits for your home or business, and it could well be cheaper as the market is very competitive.”
Tony Morgan, BT’s contract director said, “High speed fibre broadband helps to keep communities connected and ensures that businesses thrive and don’t just survive. Since 2007 BT has laid the foundations of the network for local authorities like Halton to build on. People and businesses in Halton are increasingly taking the opportunities that this transforming technology offers. And the Openreach engineers have worked closely with Halton to create more and more of those opportunities.”
Connection does not happen automatically and people must contact their communication provider – there are more than 140 of them across the UK – to order the service.
Photo Caption
Cllr Rob Polhill – Leader of Halton Borough Council and Aron Briggs – BT Programme Manager for Cheshire cut the ribbon on the latest superfast broadband cabinet in Halton on the Astmoor Industrial Estate.
Notes to Editors:
About Superfast Britain
Superfast Britain is a Government investment of £1.08bn 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 comprises three linked programmes:
● £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95 per cent 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 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: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk
About Connecting Cheshire
The Connecting Cheshire project was launched in April 2013, and is a partnership of four councils – Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Halton and Warrington – and BT. It is funded by £13.6m from the European Development Fund, £9m from BT, £4m from BDUK with £1.85m provided jointly from the councils.
The £28.5m project will provide fibre broadband to more than 80,000 homes and businesses. This builds on BT’s commercial investment so that 96 percent of Cheshire –around 400,000 premises – will have access to speeds of up to 80mbps by the end of 2015.
The project will reach those areas outside of any commercial broadband roll-out using a partnership approach to ensure all communities have access to the fastest possible broadband speeds. For more information visit www.connectingcheshire.org.uk
*About ERDF
The project is part financed by the North West Competitiveness Programme, 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.gov.uk/erdf-programmes-progress-and-achievements
About BT
BT’s purpose is to use the power of communications to make a better world. It 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. Following the acquisition of EE on 29 January 2016, BT consists principally of six customer-facing lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, EE, BT Wholesale and Openreach.
For the year ended 31 March 2015, BT Group’s reported revenue was £17,979m with reported profit before taxation of £2,645m.
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.
