More Wiltshire communities set to benefit from superfast broadband
The next communities set to benefit from a multi-million pound superfast broadband partnership between Wiltshire Council, BT and South Gloucestershire Council have been revealed.
Businesses and communities in the following areas will be able to order superfast broadband from the end of summer 2014:
• Hawthorn & Neston
• Winterslow
• Lacock
• Wilton
• Broad Chalke
• Idmiston / Gomeldon / Porton
• Westwood & Avoncliff
• Pitton
• Farley
• East and West Grimstead
John Thomson, Wiltshire Council cabinet member for broadband, said: “We have invested significantly in this scheme and it’s great to announce more communities that will have access to this vital service. Superfast broadband will also provide a huge boost to local businesses and will make Wiltshire an even more attractive county to set up business in.
“We look to forward to announcing more communities who will benefit in the very near future.”
Bill Murphy, managing director of next generation networks for BT Group, said: “We are continuing to make excellent progress in Wiltshire and this is another important step forward for the partnership which is taking this game changing technology to locations where the economics and engineering challenges are that much greater.
“High-speed fibre broadband is vitally important if our businesses and homes are to make the most of the huge range of opportunities offered by the internet.”
This rollout marks the continuation of the scheme that will see 91 percent of premises in Wiltshire* connected to superfast broadband of 24Mpbs and above by the end of March 2016. So far, more than 1,100 homes have been connected thanks to the scheme.
Last month (December) Royal Wootton Bassett was the first town in the county to ‘go live’ as part of the scheme.
Once complete, nearly 1,500 kilometres of fibre cabling will be laid across the county, and more than 300 new fibre cabinets installed.
More than 10,000 homes and businesses in Wiltshire will be able to connect to fibre broadband by June 2014 under the project as it rolls out to other areas in the county.
The £35.6 million project was one of the first in the country to deliver broadband to communities and businesses thanks to a partnership between the two councils and BT, along with funding from the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) programme.
More information on the project can be found at www.wiltshire.gov.uk/wiltshireonline
People can also get regular updates on the scheme and other projects the council’s Wiltshire Online team are running by following @WiltshireOnline on Twitter.
Ends.
Notes for editors:
*This builds on BT’s existing commercial roll out. Around 92,000 premises already have access to fibre in Wiltshire (excluding Swindon), rising to 103,000 once the roll-out is completed.
About Superfast Britain
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: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk
