Faster broadband available to six more communities in Yorkshire and the Humber

More than 21,800 more homes and businesses across Yorkshire and the Humber now benefiting from roll-out programme; 
CBI welcomes new development 

Faster broadband is now available to more than 21,800 more homes and businesses in Yorkshire and the Humber, BT announced today. 

Meltham, Hemsworth, Hipperholme, Holme-on-Spalding, Bubwith and Great Ayton are the latest communities in the region to benefit from upgrades as part of the roll-out of BT’s next generation broadband service delivered over copper lines. 

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 1.6 million premises in the region and is available on an open, wholesale basis to all companies providing broadband*. 

This will take the number of homes and businesses across the Yorkshire and Humber region able to access the faster broadband to around 90 per cent. 

Andrew Palmer, director, CBI Yorkshire and Humber, said: “This investment is further great news for Yorkshire and the Humber. It’s good to see more communities benefiting from the roll-out of faster broadband, through this upgrade. 

“The technology will create new opportunities, giving our businesses a competitive edge as well as opening new doors for people of every age and background.” 

John Anderson, BT’s regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, 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 region.” 

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. 

Fibre broadband is already available in Hemsworth and BT is keen to work with the public sector to extend fibre broadband to the remaining parts of the region that are harder to reach. 

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.