BT and Suffolk partner on super-fast broadband strategy

Suffolk County Council (SCC) and BT are teaming up to boost super-fast broadband provision for local homes and businesses.

Under the plans, nine in ten Suffolk properties will be connected to fibre optic broadband within three years, offering an increase in downstream speeds of at least 10Mbps.

By the end of 2013, next-generation broadband will be rolled out across the Waveney Local Enterprise Zone area, allowing local properties to access super-fast speeds of 24Mbps or more.

During talks with potential suppliers, the county council discussed the importance of delivering faster and more reliable broadband to every home and business in Suffolk, rather than just bolstering services in easy-to-reach communities.

As a result, just two per cent of the most remote properties will be left with speeds of less than 5Mbps.

Mark Bee, SCC's leader and chair of the Better Broadband for Suffolk programme board, said improving broadband coverage will create up to 5,000 new jobs across the county.

Country Land and Business Association East regional director Nicola Currie welcomed the news, commenting: "High-speed broadband is essential not only for business but for education and retraining, as well as helping communities and, in the future, providing better healthcare."