Superfast broadband rollout ramps up across Devon and Somerset

Nearly 45,000 homes and businesses in Devon and Somerset will be able to access high-speed fibre broadband by next March, as part of a 94 million project to bring superfast internet services to rural areas.

Connecting Devon and Somerset, the organisation in charge of rolling out fibre broadband to rural areas within the two counties, said superfast broadband connectivity would be available to a further 31 communities. This extends the number of homes and businesses able to benefit from the programme to 44,000.

The partnership includes Devon and Somerset County Councils, Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset, Plymouth and Torbay Councils, BT and the UK Government's Superfast Britain programme.

The communities due to be upgraded include Bishop's Hull, Bridford, Chilton Trinity, Christow, Combe Florey, Comeytrowe, Corfe, Cotford St. Luke, Crediton, Dunchideock, Exminster, Hatherleigh, Hemyock, Newton St. Cyres, North Tawton, Nynehead, Okehampton, Okehampton Hamlets, Petrockstow, Ruishton, Sampford Arundel, Sandford, Shillingford St. George, Shobrooke, South Tawton, Stoke St. Gregory, Thurloxton, Trull, Wembdon, West Buckland and West Monkton.

These parish areas will join seven towns and villages already announced. Parts of Holsworthy, Bradford-on-Tone and Sticklepath have already gone live, while Moretonhampstead, Bishops Lydeard, Monkton Heathfield and Creech St Michael will be upgraded by the end of the month.

The programme is being carried out alongside commercial rollouts in both counties. The project aims to make speeds of up to 24Mbps available to around 90 per cent of homes and businesses by the end of 2016.

It also plans to ensure a minimum of 2Mbps for all premises within the programme area. Connecting Devon and Somerset said it was actively lobbying for more funding to further extend the availability of superfast broadband.

The programme has also published a new map on the Connecting Devon and Somerset website. The organisation said this would be updated as more locations come on stream.

The map displays the final locations for this phase at a detailed postcode level, and residents and businesses will be able to see where this part of the rollout will reach.

Ed Vaizey, minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, said: "The news that 44,000 homes and businesses will have access to superfast speeds by March 2014 is fantastic news for the residents of Devon and Somerset. The UK already does more business online than any other European country and widespread access to superfast speeds will provide a welcome boost to the local economy."

Laurent Boon, programme manager for Connecting Devon and Somerset at BT, added: "The arrival of fibre broadband is one of the most important investments in Devon and Somerset in recent times. High-speed fibre broadband is transforming the way we live and work.

"For businesses, it can help deliver a competitive edge, which will help them attract new customers and find new, more efficient ways of working. For households, it's ideal for quick and efficient on-line shopping, entertainment, education, research and social networking."