Faster broadband available to twenty three more South West communities

55,000 more homes and businesses across the South West now benefiting from roll-out programme; 

Devon and Cornwall Business Council welcomes new development 

Faster broadband is now available to 55,000 more homes and businesses in the South West, BT announced today. 

Torrington, Wembury, Yealmpton, Ipplepen and Sutton Cross are among the latest locations to benefit from upgrades as part of the roll-out of BT’s next generation broadband service delivered over copper lines. A full list of South West exchanges is at the end of this news release. 

The BT investment will make available download speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps) – more than double the fastest speed previously available from BT. 

The new service is now accessible to around 1.9 million South West premises and is available on an open, wholesale basis to all companies providing broadband*. 

This will take the number of homes and businesses across the region able to access the faster broadband to around 84 per cent. 

Ben Rhodes, chief executive of the Devon and Cornwall Business Council, said: “This investment is a further step forward for the South West. It’s good to see more communities benefiting from the roll-out of faster broadband, through the upgrade of BT’s copper network. This technology will create new opportunities, giving our businesses a competitive edge as well as helping to open new doors for people of every age and background.” 

Jon Reynolds, BT’s regional director for the South West, said: “Increasingly, broadband is an essential part of everyday life, whether you’re Christmas shopping online, sharing photographs and videos with the family, working in an office or as a homeworker, improving your education or just wanting to download a film or programme online. 

“It has the power to transform every aspect of our lives and is a vital part of ensuring the future prosperity of communities across the South West.” 

This investment in the copper network is in addition to BT’s £2.5 billion roll-out of fibre-based broadband, which will bring even faster speeds to around two-thirds of UK premises during Spring 2014. 

ENDS 

Note to Editors 
*Once an exchange area has been upgraded for next generation broadband, some service providers automatically upgrade their customers to the enhanced broadband service. People should contact their chosen service provider for more information about the products and services they offer. 

Full list of exchanges announced today: Sutton Cross (Devon), Portland (Dorset), Lulsgate (Somerset), Torrington (Devon), Padstow (Cornwall), Marnhull (Dorset), Pewsey (Wiltshire), Porthtowan (Cornwall), Idmiston (Wiltshire), Alderbury (Wiltshire), St Columb (Cornwall), Whitecroft (Gloucestershire), Limpley Stoke (Wiltshire), Mullion (Cornwall), Westbury-on-Trym (Bristol), Bleadon (Somerset), Dobwalls (Cornwall), Wembury (Devon), Yealmpton (Devon), Ipplepen (Devon), Marston Magna (Somerset), Newent (Gloucestershire), Gillingham (Dorset)