Superfast broadband comes to Much Wenlock

More than 1,000 further Shropshire homes and businesses can benefit from superfast speeds 

More than 1,000 residents and businesses in medieval Much Wenlock are being encouraged to sign up for superfast broadband, following the arrival of the new technology in the town.  This comes as part of a national Government campaign* to raise awareness of the benefits faster Internet speeds can bring.

The public sector is investing £1.7 billion in the UK’s digital infrastructure so that, by 2017, 95 per cent of businesses and homes across the UK will be able to access superfast broadband.  This includes investment in Connecting Shropshire – a partnership between Shropshire Council, BT and the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK.

Superfast broadband is already available in 78 per cent of UK premises.  Locally, the Connecting Shropshire rollout has brought around 29,000 homes and businesses within reach of the fibre broadband network.  However, some people are not aware whether they can get superfast broadband where they live, or what they need to do to take up the service.  Shropshire homes and businesses can check the availability of fibre broadband on the Connecting Shropshire website: www.connectingshropshire.co.uk.

Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow, was out in Much Wenlock recently inspecting the work of the Connecting Shropshire programme, which has now made superfast fibre broadband available to more than 1,000 premises in the town.

Philip Dunne said:

“This is great news for Much Wenlock.  Superfast broadband is essential to local businesses, and I’m certain that it will be a catalyst for the creation of new jobs in the town.  It will also transform the lives of local families, whether they’re using the technology for working from home, entertainment or education.”

David Turner, local Shropshire Councillor for Much Wenlock, said:

“The arrival of superfast broadband in Much Wenlock creates exciting opportunities for us all.  Many of the services we use are now accessible online, and with the explosion of online shopping and online streaming services, now’s the time for residents and businesses to check out whether they can benefit from superfast broadband by visiting www.gov.uk/gosuperfast, www.connectingshropshire.co.uk or by contacting their chosen Internet service provider.”

Ian Binks, BT’s regional manager for Shropshire and the West Midlands, said:

“As the birthplace of Dr William Penny Brookes – who inspired the modern Olympic movement and one of the official mascots for London 2012 – Much Wenlock has become increasingly well-known around the world.  It is, therefore, fitting that it can now boast world-beating fibre broadband speeds.

“The people of Much Wenlock  join more than 85,000 households and businesses across Shropshire** who already have access to fibre broadband as a result of BT’s commercial rollout and the Connecting Shropshire programme.”

Research*** shows that UK homes are getting more connected, with the average number of digital devices in the home increasing rapidly.  Superfast broadband can help meet the need to operate computers, tablets, set top boxes and smartphones at the same time, and help users to enjoy the options of working at home, running a small business or catching up on favourite TV programmes and films.

Media enquiries:

Contact Callum McLagan of ip&e Communications on 07876 886823 or email callum.mclagan@ipande.co.uk  (All Shropshire Council news stories can be read at http://shropshire.gov.uk/news/)

Or

Emma Tennant at the BT regional press office on 0800 085 0660 or email: emma.tennant@bt.com.

 Further information

* For more information about the Superfast Britain campaign see www.gov.uk/gosuperfast.

** Excluding Telford & Wrekin

*** Superfast coverage in the UK is highest among EU5 countries (higher than Germany and Spain and five times higher than Italy and three times higher than France).  Source: Ofcom European Broadband Scorecard – March 2014.

More information on the Government’s investment of Superfast Broadband: www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk.

About Connecting Shropshire

Connecting Shropshire is the name given to the programme bringing fibre-based broadband to areas where it isn’t economically viable for commercial companies to provide it.  It is a partnership between Shropshire Council, BT and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) that will enable more than 62,000 homes and businesses in Shropshire (excluding Telford and Wrekin) to access faster broadband by the end of 2016.

For more details about the superfast broadband rollout in Shropshire, visit www.connectingshropshire.co.uk.

Photos showing the rollout of Connecting Shropshire can be downloaded for free from: https://flic.kr/s/aHsk1gij7M

About BT

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries.  Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and Internet products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and services.  BT consists principally of five lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2014, BT Group’s reported revenue was £18,287m, with reported profit before taxation of £2,312m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com. 

All news releases can be accessed at our web site: http://www.bt.com/newscentre.

About Superfast Britain

Superfast Britain is a Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK.  Run by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this investment helps businesses to grow, creates jobs and will make Britain more competitive in the global race.  The portfolio is comprised of three elements:

• £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95 per cent of the UK by 2017
• £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities
• £150m to improve quality and coverage of mobile phone and basic data network services.

Administered on behalf of Government by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), Superfast Britain is transforming Britain by promoting growth, enabling skills and learning, and improving quality of life.  For further information: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk.

Photo: Chris Taylor (left) and Phillip Dunne MP (right).