Stakeholders sign on dotted line to put region on ‘superfast broadband’ map

A MULTIMILLION pound contract which promises superfast broadband to most of West Yorkshire by Autumn 2015 has been agreed between four of the region’s councils and BT.

The new Superfast West Yorkshire project, worth almost £22m, plans to extend high-speed fibre broadband to 97 per cent of households and businesses across the majority of West Yorkshire.

As well as providing high speed fibre, the partnership aims to upgrade 100 per cent of premises in the area to speeds of more than 2Mbps.

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It is all aimed at building on BT’s £2.5 billion rollout of fibre broadband to two-thirds of UK by the end of Spring 2014.

Leeds City Council, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Wakefield Council and Calderdale Council will work with BT to bring fibre broadband to premises which are not currently included in the commercial roll-out plans and could otherwise have missed out on this opportunity.

Ed Vaizey, Communications Minister, said: “This £21.96 million project will deliver an incredible transformation in broadband speeds for thousands of homes and businesses in West Yorkshire.

“It will be instrumental in driving growth, boosting the local economy, and achieving the Government’s objective of reaching 95 per cent of all UK premises by 2017.”

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Councillor Keith Wakefield, chair of the Association of West Yorkshire Authorities (AWYA), said: “This is an important day for West Yorkshire as we take a vital step forward in the digital age. Fast and reliable internet is becoming crucial to daily life and for residents in West Yorkshire, it will provide an equal opportunity to access essential online activities such as council services, healthcare and other public services as well as offering new leisure and educational opportunities.

“I believe it will help us strengthen our economy by giving small businesses a means to develop their potential and achieve their ambitions as well as encouraging new start-ups and job creation.

“This pioneering project will be of real benefit to many residents and businesses in West Yorkshire and we are continuing to work hard to bring the whole of West Yorkshire up to speed.”

“I encourage all businesses and residents in the region to take full advantage, and put West Yorkshire on the superfast map.”

An installation schedule will be announced in the coming months, with better connectivity promised from 2014 onwards.