28
September
2015
|
09:41
Europe/London

Stanhope goes superfast

Summary
Digital Durham to demonstrate the benefits of fibre broadband to residents and businesses at local event

The superfast, fibre broadband roll-out in Stanhope is now complete, Digital Durham announced today. More than 950households and businesses in the town are able to connect to the new, high-speed fibre technology and members of the Digital Durham team will be holding a community event at Stanhope Community centre at 10am on Friday September 25 to answer questions and to explain the benefits.

Welcoming the news, Councillor Jane Brown, cabinet member for corporate services, Durham County Council, said: “We are delighted that so many residents and businesses in Stanhope are able to access fibre broadband and all of the positive opportunities that it brings.

“We would encourage anyone wanting to know more about fibre broadband and its benefits to pop along and meet the Digital Durham team who will be on hand at Friday’s community event to help answer any questions.

“It is extremely encouraging to see the positive impact that faster broadband speeds are having as part of the roll-out across the county and we look forward to yet more homes and businesses being able to access this fantastic service.”

Elsewhere in Weardale, around 4,300 households and businesses in Frosterley, Wolsingham, Witton-Le-Wear and Tow Law can access the new fibre network, whilst, just outside Weardale, the high-speed technology has also just become available to more than 260 premises in the nearby village of Hamsterley.

People living and working in the vicinity of Angate Street in Wolsingham are showing the greatest appetite for the new technology with more than a third of them choosing to take a fibre broadband service. This is well above the national average and that figure continues to rise.

Simon Roberson, BT’s regional partnership director for the North East, said: “Getting fibre to rural locations is no easy task, but it’s a very important one. The high number of people choosing to try out the new technology in locations like Angate Street clearly demonstrates the growing demand for high speed broadband as more people discover the real benefits for living in today’s digital world.

“Superfast broadband is not just of value to businesses it also offers many benefits forfamilies such as downloading music in minutes or watching catch-up TV; streaming HD or 3D movies in a few minutes; or posting photos and videos to social networking sites in seconds. It can also improve access to new job opportunities, and make it easier to shop around for cheaper services.”

More than 73,000 homes and businesses can now access fibre broadbandacross the Digital Durham programme area and thousands of them have already ordered fibre broadband and are now enjoying faster broadband speeds of up to 80Mbps[i].

Fibre broadband at home means everyone in the family can do their own thing online, all at the same time, whether it’s downloading music in minutes or watching catch-up TV; streaming HD or 3D movies in a few minutes; or posting photos and videos to social networking sites in seconds. Fibre improves the quality of online experiences and supports new developments in internet services.Benefits for businesses include faster file and data transfers, better access to cloud computing services and software, more sophisticated web-based contact with customers and support for more flexible working.

In order to take advantage of the higher speeds now available, residents should contact their service provider. The Digital Durham broadband programme is delivered by Durham County Council and BT.In total, £34 million has been invested by BT, Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Government funding from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and public sector partners in Sunderland, South Tyneside, North Tyneside and the Tees Valley.

The second phase of the programme is expected to begin in 2017 and, by the end of the roll-out, 97 per cent of premises within the programme area will have access to fibre broadband.

For more information about the Digital Durham programme please visit www.digitaldurham.org