Super-fast broadband on the way for Hungerford
Move will encourage jobs and prosperity, says MP
HUNGERFORD is among 41 market towns that will benefit from the next phase of BT's super-fast fibre broadband deployment, the telecom giant has announced.
Customers in the town will be able to access super-fast broadband speeds of up to 40Mb/s from Spring 2012.
Hungerford is one of only eight rural market towns in the south east on the list.
Many local internet users will feel it's about time: Hungerford was branded one of Britain's broadband blackspots last year.
Internet marketeers and broadband comparison website Top10.com researched the broadband connection speeds of more than 2,000 British towns, villages and cities.
It found that Hungerford was 11th out of the 20 worst areas, with an average download speed of 1.81Mb.
The average UK broadband download speed registered by researchers between August and October last year was 6.86Mb.
More than 98,000 speed tests were conducted through the Top10.com website between August and October and each town, village or city had to have a minimum of 50 broadband speed tests carried out during this period.
However, from spring 2012, more than 3,000 premises served by the Hungerford broadband exchange should be able to access super-fast broadband speeds of up to 40Mb/s.
Newbury MP Richard Benyon said he was “delighted” at the news and predicted: “This will have numerous beneficial implications upon education, business, and entertainment. I am really pleased that Hungerford has been chosen as one of the eight towns for this roll-out.
“This will bring opportunities for jobs, as well as key support for vulnerable people. Hungerford is a community with huge potential, and digital access will be at the heart of its prosperity in the future.”
In the largest single commercial investment in fibre-based broadband ever undertaken in the UK, BT is investing £2.5 billion to deliver fibre broadband to up to two thirds of UK homes and businesses, subject to an acceptable environment for investment.
It is currently one of the biggest civil engineering projects running in Europe.
