BT gives Cornwall super-fast broadband boost

BT has announced 1,000 homes and businesses in Cornwall can now access superfast broadband as the comms giant gets on with its big rollout.

The next-generation connections have been made available in the Chiverton Cross and Chacewater areas of the county and 50 customers have signed up so far.

BT said superfast connections are due to go live in St Agnes, St Day, Portreath, Devoran, Leedstown, Stenalees and Par within the next few days, bringing high-speed services to another 14,000 customers.

The move forms part of a 132 million fibre rollout in Cornwall and is linked to BT's plan to have two-thirds of the UK connected by 2015.

By 2014,, the Superfast Cornwall project is expected to have provided connections to around 80 per cent of homes and businesses in the county and the Isles of Scilly.

Cornwall Development Company and Cornwall Council's economic development company have been responsible for coordinating the project, whilst BT and the European Regional Development Fund Convergence programme have funded it.

Carolyn Rule, Cornwall Council cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said the initiative was on schedule and described reaching the 1,000 milestone as "a great achievement."

"The partners of this programme are already working together very well, dealing quickly and effectively with the many technical challenges posed by this huge initiative," added Nigel Ashcroft, programme director of Superfast Cornwall for Cornwall Development Company.

"The speed of roll-out compares well with anything of a similar nature in the UK or abroad. Typically, you could expect to see the first customers connected about a year or so after the signing of the contract, but we've managed it in about six months."

IT PRO recently caught up with BT Openreach's new chief executive (CEO) Olivia Garfield, who noted the significant task facing the telecoms giant with the rollout.