Fibre broadband to arrive in 13 new Shropshire exchange areas
A further 13 exchange areas will benefit from high-speed fibre broadband before the end of next year as part of the Connecting Shropshire programme.
Around 7,500 homes and businesses will benefit in Bishops Castle, Bromfield, Calverhall, Cressage, Ditton Priors, Dudleston Heath, Ellesmere, Hodnet, Knockin, Munslow, Norton, Seifton and Worfield.
Today also saw the launch of a new online map and easy-to-use line checker on the Connecting Shropshire website, designed to make it even easier for people to find out the availability of fibre broadband in their area.
It can be accessed through the Connecting Shropshire website at: www.connectingshropshire.co.uk/when-and-where/
The map allows local people to get up-to-date information about the status of their exchange area within the programme. The line checker enables people to enter their postcode or telephone number to find out their exchange area, whether or not fibre broadband is available and estimated dates when it will be available to them.
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council Cabinet member responsible for broadband, said:
“We’re working towards connecting as many Salopians to fibre broadband as we can and the next stages of the plan are now confirmed. So far over 19,000 homes and businesses across 25 exchange areas have seen fibre broadband become available to them through the programme and as we continue to build, even more will be connected.
“The map and line checker are important resources that allow people to see where they fit into the programme and whether they are in an area where faster fibre broadband is already available.”
Steve Henderson, BT’s regional director for broadband partnerships, said:
“This is an exciting time for Shropshire. The Connecting Shropshire partnership is spreading its wings and our teams are working hard to bring high-speed fibre broadband to as many communities as possible, as quickly as possible, including some of the most remote areas of the county.
“Fast and reliable internet is becoming crucial to daily life for residents in Shropshire. Fibre broadband 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.”
Connecting Shropshire is a partnership between Shropshire Council, BT and Broadband Delivery UK, it builds on the commercial roll-out of fibre broadband by the private sector, which has already made the high-speed technology available to more than 111,000 Shropshire premises.
