BROADBAND BOOST FOR ALVESCOT RESIDENTS

Announcement welcomed by Prime Minister as ‘great news’

Prime Minister and West Oxfordshire MP David Cameron has welcomed the arrival of faster broadband in Alvescot, Oxfordshire, by ‘switching on’ the village’s new Better Broadband cabinet. 
The Better Broadband for Oxfordshire programme, a partnership between Oxfordshire County Council, BT and the Government, aims to ensure at least 90 per cent1 of all premises in the county will have access to superfast broadband speeds of 24Mbps and above by the end of 2015. 

Alvescot homes and businesses are among the first in the county to benefit from this £25 million Better Broadband for Oxfordshire programme. 

David Cameron, MP for Witney, marked the arrival of superfast broadband in the village at the event on Friday. He said: “The switching on of the first tranche of superfast cabinets marks the start of a remarkable transformation of broadband throughout Oxfordshire. 

“The UK already does more business online than any other European country and widespread access to superfast speeds will provide a welcome boost to Oxfordshire’s economy.” 

The Better Broadband for Oxfordshire programme will bring significant social and economic benefits to rural areas in the county where broadband access may currently be slow. By stepping in to fill gaps not served commercially, the county council and its partners are ensuring that more people can get online and take advantage of a wide range of services many already take for granted. 

County Councillor Ian Hudspeth, Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “The county council, through the Better Broadband project, is ensuring that Oxfordshire has the capability to prosper economically and be amongst the most attractive places to live in the UK. 

“I am really excited to be involved in this switch on as it means that people in the village can take advantage of faster internet speeds and all the benefits that come with it. In today’s rapidly moving world, fast and sophisticated communications are absolutely vital. They are an essential part of the future success of Oxfordshire.” 
Parish councillor Richard Munro has been championing the importance of broadband for the community. He said: “Broadband is an essential part of modern life and yet in many rural areas, like Alvescot, speeds have typically been very slow. We welcome the arrival of superfast broadband in the village and all the benefits it will bring to our residents and businesses.” 

The project, which also aims to ensure 100% of the county will be able to order a minimum speed of 2Mbps, has been funded by BT’s investment of £11 million, £10million from Oxfordshire County Council and £4million Government funding from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK). 

Bill Murphy, BT’s managing director of next generation access, added: “All over the country fibre broadband is changing people’s lives. It provides a digital gateway to a wealth of opportunities whether it is supporting how we work, how we learn, how we communicate with friends and family, or how we entertain ourselves. With the arrival of fibre in Alvescot local residents and businesses will be at the forefront of this broadband revolution” 

A list of possible internet service providers can be found at www.betterbroadbandoxfordshire.org.uk.