Member Article

William Hague hails progress of Superfast North Yorkshire

William Hague hailed the progress of Superfast North Yorkshire as the partnership demonstrated the technology behind its multi million pound roll out of super-fast fibre broadband last week as more than 14,000 local homes and businesses can now benefit from fibre broadband.

The MP for Richmond joined the Superfast North Yorkshire team at The Station in Richmond, visiting a mobile showcase of the technology to learn more about how it works and to emphasise why faster broadband speeds are essential for future success and prosperity.

He said: “Broadband is an essential part of our present and future. It’s vital that we embrace this latest generation of technology in order for our local economy to remain competitive.

“The fact that more than 14,000 homes and businesses in Richmondshire can now order fibre broadband is fantastic, and I look forward to news of further upgrades in the coming months.”

Superfast North Yorkshire, a partnership led by North Yorkshire County Council and BT, builds on BT’s own commercial roll-out of fibre broadband in the county so that 90 per cent of North Yorkshire’s homes and businesses will have access to fibre broadband by the end of 2014.

More than 120,000 home and businesses can already access the fibre network as a direct result of the project with a further 225,000 North Yorkshire premises covered by BT’s own commercial roll-out.

Councillor Carl Les, chairman of Superfast North Yorkshire, said: “During the industrial revolution the railways played a major role in driving economic growth. Richmond’s own historic station had a huge impact on the town providing accessibility and opportunities for residents and businesses.

“In today’s digitally interconnected world it is fibre broadband that will lead the way in driving growth and opportunities for many communities in Richmondshire.”

Bill Murphy, BT’s managing director for Next Generation Access, added: “Superfast broadband opens the doors to countless business opportunities, boosting the rural areas and supporting thriving local communities.

“Deploying broadband is a substantial challenge but a vital one which will help local businesses to be competitive and ensure they remain in the area. It can also play an important role in attracting even more firms to an area thereby helping to create jobs for local people.”

For more information call 0845 0020021 or email: enquiries@sfny.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Clare Burnett .