£2.5bn BT speed-up to give Black Country boost
Homes across the Black Country will be among 245,000 in the West Midlands to get the latest high-speed fibre broadband as part of a £2.5 billion project by BT.
The move will see homes and businesses in Tipton, Oldbury, Finchfield, Wolverhampton, and Hagley benefit.
Expansion includes investment in making fibre broadband more widely available in areas already with the high-speed technology or due to receive it.
The move, to be completed by Spring 2014, is expected to create jobs and boost the economy. Other area to benefit include Chelmsley Wood, Stechford and parts of Aston in Birmingham.
It will take the total number of premises with access to fibre broadband in the region to more than 1.7 million.
John Dovey BT West Midlands regional director, said: "It will be a key part of our economic revival as we finally shrug off the effects of the downturn and create a better, more prosperous future."
Board member of Black Country Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Sandwell board Ninder Johal said: "I am pleased that the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership has played a vital role in ensuring that we have a consistent policy towards broadband in the Black Country."
BT says more than 13 million UK premises can already access fibre broadband and the figure rises by about 100,000 weekly.
Those with a fibre broadband connection can download film, watcha TV replay, surf the net and play games simultaneously.
