Superfast broadband ‘goes live’ in West Harptree and Hinton Blewett
Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) has brought superfast broadband to homes and businesses in the West Harptree and Hinton Blewett areas. Two hundred and twenty seven households and businesses in and around the villages now have access to superfast broadband speeds of up to 80Mbps.
Interior designer and local business owner Sim Barker, www.simbarker.com, is delighted to have the option to upgrade commenting: “Superfast broadband will have a big impact on my business and my ability to engage with clients and go about my work. I’m really pleased that West Harptree has been connected so that other residents and small businesses too can benefit from fibre broadband internet.”
By the end of December 2016, Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS), the tax-payer subsidised broadband roll-out will have achieved its phase 1 target on time of making fibre broadband available to around 320,000 households and businesses in areas not covered by commercial providers, of which around 275,000 will be able to get superfast speeds of 24Mbps and above.
To date, the CDS programme has provided more than 295,000 households and businesses in Devon and Somerset with access to improved broadband, of which about 8 out of 10 are able to access superfast broadband speeds in excess of 24mbps. This has been made possible through the construction of more than 1,300 fibre broadband cabinets and the laying of many thousands of kilometres of fibre optic cables by engineers from BT’s local network business, Openreach.
Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones, Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “I’m delighted for everybody in West Harptree and Hinton Blewett who now has the opportunity to access superfast broadband as a result of the Connecting Devon and Somerset programme. Superfast broadband has become even more essential to ensure that our businesses remain competitive and our economy continues to grow. Superfast broadband can dramatically alter how we work – opening up home working and other measures to improve efficiency and enable rural communities to access services so long taken for granted by many in more urban areas.”
Paul Coles, BT South West regional manager, said: “The rollout of high-speed fibre broadband represents a major investment for the Bath and North East Somerset area and demonstrates our continuing commitment there. We are building a truly open network which can be used by all service providers, thereby delivering choice and competition for the residents and businesses in the area. It will provide a vital boost for local households and businesses because whatever you do online you can do it better with fibre broadband.”
Residents and businesses can keep up to date with the latest cabinets going live via Twitter @DCCSCCBroadband or via www.connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk. If your area is covered by fibre broadband you will need to contact your Internet Service Provider to order a fibre broadband service.
