Broadband roll-out to boost rural economy
BT is a partner, along with North Yorkshire County Council, in Superfast North Yorkshire, the county's high-speed broadband roll-out programme. (S)
Seven towns and villages in our area are among 34 across North Yorkshire to benefit from the first stage of the county’s high-speed fibre broadband roll-out, it has been announced.
The multi-million pound programme is expected to create jobs and boost the district’s economy by helping to increase the competitiveness of local firms.
The communities included in the first stage of the programme are Birstwith, Melmerby, Pateley Bridge, Ripon, South Milford, Spofforth and Topcliffe.
They are to be upgraded by the end of summer 2013, according to Superfast North Yorkshire, the partnership between North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) and BT responsible for the roll-out.
The improvements could benefit thousands of homes and businesses in our area; across the whole of the county, they will affect more than 24,000 homes and businesses.
Timothy Kirkhope, MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, said that the investment would help to build confidence locally of an economic recovery.
He added: “Local firms and households will be greatly encouraged by such a major investment, which demonstrates that we are making progress even in these tough economic times.
“It will reinforce North Yorkshire’s strong credentials as a great place to live and do business. High-speed communications have never been more vital in order to succeed in an ever more competitive and connected world.”
Superfast North Yorkshire builds on BT’s own commercial roll-out of fibre broadband in the county and aims to provide 90 per cent of North Yorkshire’s homes and businesses with access to fibre broadband – most with speeds of at least 25Mbps – by the end of 2014.
NYCC councillor Carl Les, chairman of Superfast North Yorkshire, called fast, sophisticated communications “the cornerstone of a successful community” and said: “We are pleased with the pace of the roll-out which is bringing this exciting technology to more challenging areas in the county.”
Superfast North Yorkshire is jointly funded by BT, Nynet, regional and national government and the European Union.
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Weather for Ripon
Tuesday 21 May 2013
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Temperature: 9 C to 14 C
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