Three more South Gloucestershire villages set to benefit from superfast broadband
Charfield, Rangeworthy and Wickwar are the latest South Gloucestershire villages to benefit from a multi-million pound superfast broadband partnership between South Gloucestershire Council, Wiltshire Council, and BT.
The first homes and businesses in these villages will be able to order fibre broadband services from this summer.
The £35.6 million project, which is also funded by the UK Government’s Superfast Britain programme, is rolling out fibre broadband to more challenging areas that fall outside the private sector’s commercial plans.
Councillor John Goddard, Chair of South Gloucestershire Council’s Resources Sub-Committee, said: “I am delighted to announce three more villages will be able to benefit from the roll out of superfast broadband. We recognise that high speed internet connections are vital for South Gloucestershire residents as well as our businesses and this is another milestone reached in this large and complex infrastructure project.”
By the end of March 2015, 94 per cent of premises in South Gloucestershire will have access to superfast speeds of 24Mbps and above*.
Charfield, Rangeworthy and Wickwar join Wick, Pucklechurch, Lower Almondsbury, Olveston, Rudgeway, Tockington, Tormarton and Bradley Stoke which were announced last year as some of the first communities to be included in the partnership’s roll-out plans. The project is on track to enable more than 5,000 homes and businesses in South Gloucestershire to connect to fibre broadband during this summer. All premises within the project area will have access to a minimum speed of 2Mbps by March 2016.
Bill Murphy, managing director of next generation networks for BT Group, said: “We are continuing to make excellent progress in South Gloucestershire 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 is vitally important if our businesses and homes are to make the most of the huge range of opportunities offered by the internet.”
The project aims to lay nearly 100 kilometres of fibre cabling and install more than 50 new street cabinets. More information on the project can be found at www.southglos.gov.uk/broadband
ENDS
For media enquiries and interviews
Cllr John Goddard is available for media interviews. Please contact Strategic Communications on 01454 863200 or the BT press office on 0800 085 0660.
Notes to Editors
*This builds on BT’s existing commercial roll out, which will make the high-speed technology available to more than 90,000 homes and businesses in South Gloucestershire by the end of Spring 2014.
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 and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.
For the year ended 31 March 2013, BT Group’s reported revenue was £18,103mwith reported profit before taxation of £2,315m.
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.
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
