Broadband boost for 120,000 in region

MORE than 120,000 more North West homes and businesses will have access to faster broadband by early 2012, telecoms giant BT has announced.

The company is investing in next generation copper broadband, which in this latest tranches will benefit 19 North West communities.

This makes broadband speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps) – more than double the maximum speeds previously available to the
majority of UK homes and businesses.

BT said by the Spring of next year around 84% per cent of North West premises are expected to have been enabled.

Users of other Internet Service Providers will benefit too as the next generation broadband network is available on an open, wholesale basis to all ISPs.
     
Mike Blackburn, BT’s North West regional director, said: “This is another important  step forward for the region. Faster broadband can help businesses become more  competitive and greatly improve the online services available to families and homeworkers.
       
“BT is the only company consistently investing in a mixture of faster broadband  technologies both in and outside the region’s major urban areas.

“As the roll-out of faster broadband gathers pace, Internet users will increasingly be able to choose the service that suits their needs best.”

The communities to be included in the roll-out are: Ainsdale,
Birkdale and Rainford in Merseyside; Burton-in-Kendal in Cumbria; Alderley Edge, Disley, Holmes  Chapel and Nantwich in Cheshire; Saddle worth in Greater Manchester; Clitheroe,  Colne, Darwen, Great Harwood, Heysham, Longton, Marton, Wigton, Whalley and Wilpshire  in Lancashire.