NORTH Devon villages are among the latest to be hooked up to high-speed fibre broadband, BT has announced today (Thursday).
Braunton; Ashford; Heanton Punchardon; Landkey; Swimbridge; and Mortehoe have been connected as part of the £94million Connecting Devon and Somerset programme, designed to bring superfast broadband to rural areas.
Locally, the programme has also been able to provide additional coverage around the fringes of Barnstaple, and Bideford.
Subject to engineering considerations, Combe Martin, Torrington, Ilfracombe, West Down and Woolsery are due to go live by October this year.
Devon and Somerset has been selected by the Government as one of the pilot areas for the £10million innovation fund to explore alternative technologies.
To date, Connecting Devon and Somerset has connected 173 new roadside superfast cabinets with a further 75 becoming ready for service by early July.
The programme has laid 980 kilometres of spine cable since the roll-out started last year.
Laurent Boon, the BT programme manager, said: “The Connecting Devon and Somerset roll-out of fibre broadband has already made substantial progress and is continuing at a rapid pace.
“This exciting technology is providing a vital boost for local communities across the two counties. Businesses are using fibre broadband to work more efficiently and spread their wings to find new customers in the UK and sometimes much further afield, whilst households are benefiting from the improved online learning and leisure opportunities.
“It means stronger businesses and better job opportunities for local people.”
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