Superfast West Yorkshire project improves broadband availability
Superfast West Yorkshire project improves broadband availability
Broadband speeds across the vast majority of West Yorkshire are set to be transformed by the end of autumn 2015, thanks to the Superfast West Yorkshire project.
The £21.96 million contract between BT, Leeds Council, Bradford Council, Wakefield Council and Calderdale Council, will see high-speed fibre broadband made available to 97 per cent of local households and businesses across the region.
The project – which forms part of BT’s £2.5 million investment to give fibre broadband to two-thirds of premises across the UK by spring 2014 - will also see all residential and business premises in West Yorkshire given speeds of more than 2Mbps.
Communications Minister, Ed Vaizey, told the Ilkley Gazette: “This £21.96 million project will deliver an incredible transformation in broadband speeds for thousands of homes and businesses in West Yorkshire. It will be instrumental in driving growth, boosting the local economy, and achieving the Government’s objective of reaching 95 per cent of all UK premises by 2017.”
Local businesses are expected to benefit greatly from the new high-speed broadband service, as it will allow them to compete with other businesses on both a national and international level. It is also hoped that it will help to create local jobs as the businesses will be able to better compete with larger businesses, and protect local jobs by attracting inward investment to the area.
Those working from home will also benefit from the faster broadband speeds, allowing them to carry out their work in a faster, more efficient manner.
Councillor Keith Wakefield, chairman of the Association of West Yorkshire Authorities (AWYA), said: “This is an important day for West Yorkshire as we take a vital step forward in the digital age. Fast and reliable internet is becoming crucial to daily life and for residents in West Yorkshire. It will provide an equal opportunity to access essential online activities such as council services, healthcare and other public services as well as offering new leisure and educational opportunities.
“I believe it will help us strengthen our economy by giving small businesses a means to develop their potential and achieve their ambitions as well as encouraging new start-ups and job creation,” he added.
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