4:02pm Thursday 9th July 2009
By Joe Willis
ABOUT 50,000 homes and businesses in the North-East are to get super-fast broadband.
BT exchanges in Durham, East Herrington, Chester-le-Street and Hetton-le-Hole will get new fibre broadband - capable of speeds of up to 100mb - by early next summer.
The exchanges are the first in the region to be upgraded to the new technology by BT.
The announcement was welcomed by business and economic development leaders in the region.
Alan Clarke, chief executive of One North East, said: "The introduction by BT of new super fast fibre optic broadband in these four areas is excellent news, not just for local businesses, but also for many thousands of households who are increasingly reliant on this technology as part of their everyday lives."
James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said high-tech communications were now an essential part of businesses infrastructure.
"It's crucial for our competitiveness that firms in the North-East have access to the best possible services and this investment from BT will be great news for our members in the areas which stand to benefit," he said.
Chris Sayers, BT's North-East regional director, said: "It continues our tradition of being a leader in the provision and adoption of broadband technologies.
"The North-East is an enterprising and innovative region, which will obtain maximum benefit from this latest major investment.
"We are working closely with regional authorities, agencies and partners across the region to ensure that we remain at the leading edge of the communications revolution."
Nationally, 69 exchanges will be upgraded meaning 1.5 million homes will have access to fibre broadband by early summer 2010.
A million of those homes will have access by March, which is a double the number estimated on a previous timescale.
Other services provides will be able to use the new network.
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