Faster internet for 11,200 Shropshire properties
The next phase of BT's £2.5 billion high-speed broadband network will include 11,200 more homes and businesses across Shropshire, it was announced today.
Telecom bosses say more than 6,500 homes and businesses in Oakengates and 4,700 in Ludlow will be upgraded to higher internet connection speeds next year, taking the total for Shropshire so far to 98,000.
About 82,000 already have access to the fibre optic network in upgraded areas including Baschurch, Newport, Oswestry and Shrewsbury, and in the Stirchley, Wellington, Dawley and Donnington areas of Telford.
Local communities have welcomed the news but urged BT to go further and help address long running issues with internet speeds across the county, especially in rural areas.
John Dovey, BT's regional director for the West Midlands, said: "Fibre broadband opens up a whole new, high speed world. This latest investment will help the region to overcome the current economic challenges and take full advantage of the upturn when it comes.
"The arrival of fibre broadband in each of these new locations will revolutionise the way people use the internet for work, education and connecting with public services."
Richard Sheehan, managing director of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "Today's announcement by BT is helping to deliver world-class broadband infrastructure across Shropshire."
However, Councillor Heather Kidd, member for Worthen and Chirbury, said broadband speeds in some rural areas of south Shropshire were still terrible and urged BT to concentrate on more outlying areas.
