Super-fast broadband to go city-wide in Sunderland

Blanket coverage of super-fast broadband services will soon arrive in Sunderland, according to the local authority.

Sunderland City Council has announced that the north-east city is due to become the first place in the UK with "wall-to-wall" access to next-generation broadband speeds.

BT has made a significant investment in the area, with 90 per cent of Sunderland's homes and businesses due to be connected to its super-fast network by summer 2012.

With other internet providers already operating in the city and further expansion planned, super-fast broadband looks set to become ubiquitous for Sunderland residents.

"Super-fast city-wide broadband infrastructure is a vital ingredient for economic growth in the city," said Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council.

"I'm proud of our city and what we have achieved."

Bill Murphy, managing director of next-generation access at BT, added that Wearside is "hitting the super-fast broadband highway at full speed".

In September, BT announced that the exchange areas of Ryhope, Sunderland, Washington and Sunderland North had been added to its £2.5 billion fibre broadband rollout.