More than 80,000 metres of fibre optic cable has been laid during first year of the programme with around 6,500 homes and businesses now able to connect to super-fast broadband.
In the last two weeks Albrighton, Cosford, Halfway House, Minsterley, Pontesbury, Westbury and Yockleton became the latest communities where high-speed fibre broadband has ‘gone live’ for the first time as a result of Connecting Shropshire.
Connecting Shropshire is a partnership between Shropshire Council, BT and the – Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) that will enable more than 62,000 rural homes and businesses in Shropshire (excluding Telford and Wrekin) to access faster broadband.
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council Cabinet member for broadband, said:
“It’s been a big year and getting things up and running was a huge task, however now we’re underway and things are picking up speed it’s clear we’ve come a long way in a year. The next year for the project – and getting fibre to as many people as we can – is the focus for us now.”
Ian Binks, BT’s regional manager for Shropshire and the West Midlands, said:
“Today marks another major milestone for the partnership. We’ve achieved so much in the first year, but we’re already focused on the work that needs to be done in the year ahead.
“It’s a huge engineering project, but we’re on course to reach the half-way point around this time next year.”
The combined investment from Connecting Shropshire and the private sector’s commercial roll-out plans means 93 per cent of homes and businesses in the Shropshire Council area will have access to faster fibre broadband by the end of Spring 2016.
To find out more visit www.connectingshropshire.co.uk.
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