26
November
2015
|
11:23
Europe/London

Twenty-first century broadband speeds reach Castle Cary

Summary
Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) has brought superfast broadband to homes and businesses in Castle Cary. The area has had a major boost in the number of people who can get superfast broadband, with 1,600 households and businesses now able to order the high speed technology following the construction and connection of six fibre broadband cabinets.

Twenty-first century broadband speeds reach Castle Cary

Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) has brought superfast broadband to homes and businesses in Castle Cary. The area has had a major boost in the number of people who can get superfast broadband, with 1,600 households and businesses now able to order the high speed technology following the construction and connection of six fibre broadband cabinets.

CDS is working hard to make high-speed fibre broadband as widely available as possible and is on track to meet its target of delivering superfast broadband to around 90 per cent of households and businesses in Devon and Somerset by the end of 2016.

To date, more than 225,000 households and businesses in the two counties have access to fibre broadband as a result of the multi million pound CDS programme. This has been made possible through the construction of almost 1000 fibre broadband cabinets and the laying of many thousands of kilometres of fibre optic cables by engineers from BT’s local network business, Openreach.

Cllr David Hall, deputy leader of Somerset County Council, said: “I’m delighted for everybody in Castle Cary who now has the opportunity to access superfast broadband as a result of the Connecting Devon and Somerset programme. This project is making a huge difference to people’s lives - the take-up rate in the areas that have gone live this year underlines just how just how keen businesses and members of the public are to get connected, and what a difference it can make.”

Paul Coles, BT South West regional manager, said: “The arrival of high-speed fibre broadband represents a major investment in Castle Cary. 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 has “gone green” then you need to contact your Internet Service Provider to arrange a fibre broadband service.

END

Notes to Editors

About Connecting Devon and Somerset

Councils across Devon and Somerset are working together to bring faster broadband to the area and deliver improved broadband for rural Devon and Somerset – the “final third” – rural areas that are unlikely to benefit from commercial investment in broadband.

The Connecting Devon and Somerset Programme covers Devon County Council, Somerset County Council, Bath and North East Somerset Council, Plymouth City Council, Torbay Council, and North Somerset Council areas.

In 2011 the programme secured £32 million of funding from the government agency Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and both Somerset and Devon County Councils put in £10 million each. Further funding from Bath and North East Somerset Council brought the public sector total close to £53 million. With the £41 million additional investment from BT the Programme is investing £94 million to improve broadband connectivity.

In 2014 BDUK announced a further £22.75m allocated to the CDS programme to support the extension of superfast broadband coverage to 95 per cent of premises nationally. This has been matched locally, which means the programme has over £45 million further to invest in bringing superfast broadband to the area.

About Superfast Britain

Superfast Britain is a Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK. Run by the Department for 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:

  1. £790m to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017;
  2. £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities; and
  3. £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