BT to bring superfast broadband to Staffordshire

BT has agreed to oversee the rollout of superfast broadband services to 97 per cent of Staffordshire's homes and businesses by spring 2016.

The telco has agreed to stump up 12.47 million to support the project, which is the latest in a long line of deals it has secured through the Government's Broadband Delivery UK scheme.

The scheme was set up to bankroll the deployment of superfast broadband to a third of the UK using 530 million of the Government's money.

As such, BDUK will contribute 7.44 million towards the rollout, a sum that has been matched by Staffordshire County Council.

The project's aim is to provide fibre broadband access to 472,000 (or 97 per cent of) premises in the region, as well as speeds of 24 Mbps and above to 95 per cent of homes and businesses there.

Mark Winnington, Staffordshire County Council's cabinet member for economy and infrastructure, said the project will open up new business opportunities for local residents.

"We see this infrastructure as important as road or rail in providing the accessibility and opportunities for our residents and businesses. It will ensure we can compete with other areas of the UK and Europe. That is why we took the crucial decision to invest 7.44million," he said.

"While it will take a number of years to roll out across the county, work will start straight away and means that the first communities in Staffordshire will be enjoying high-speed broadband from early 2014 as a direct result of our partnership."

Bill Murphy, managing director of BT Next Generation Access, added: "The development of a high-speed communications infrastructure [will] harness economic growth that will herald a new era of creativity and prosperity for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire."