Well known broadband slow spot in Trispen gets superfast broadband
A further 14 communities will get high-speed technology a year earlier than expected
Superfast Cornwall is delivering an early Christmas present to another five Cornish communities - including the well known 'broadband slow spot' of Trispen.
The pioneering public and private sector partnership today announced that the high-speed technology is now available to the first homes and businesses in Trispen, Lanivet, Penryn, Porthtowan and Drakewalls. Further parts of the Truro and Liskeard areas have also been enabled.
The announcement for Trispen was particularly welcomed by the village's residents, who have been waiting for faster broadband for about four years.
Rob Trethewey, the chairman of St Erme Parish Council, which covers the Trispen area, said: "This is fantastic news, a very important step forward for Trispen. It's the best Christmas present the village could have been given.
"Broadband has been a hot topic in Trispen for several years. Most of the village has been affected by very slow broadband speeds. About 200 people in the village responded to a survey we organised and about 80 per cent reported slow broadband speeds or connection problems of some kind.
"All that is going to change. The village will be lit up for Christmas in more ways than one!"
Sarah Newton, MP for Truro and Falmouth, said: "I am delighted by this latest announcement. Superfast broadband will benefit all members of the community, young or old, for business and leisure. For the people in Trispen, this will bring new opportunities to work from home, and access services and learning in new ways. As the Superfast Cornwall roll-out gathers momentum I look forward to broadband speeds being boosted for all my constituents."
The Superfast Cornwall partnership - comprising the European Union, BT, Cornwall Council and Cornwall Development Company - is making rapid progress. By the end of March 90,000 homes and businesses will have access to superfast broadband - over a third of all premises across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It also revealed today that another 14 Cornish communities will get access a year earlier than expected.
Camelford, Perranporth, Trebetherick, Wadebridge, Padstow, Mitchell, Otterham, Port Isaac, St Columb Major, St Merryn, The Lizard, Tintagel, Rumford and Boscastle are now due to be upgraded in 2012, rather than 2013. They represent about 25,000 homes and businesses.
Nigel Ashcroft, programme director of Superfast Cornwall for Cornwall Development Company, said: "We're tremendously excited to bring superfast broadband to Trispen in particular, an area we've had on our radar for some time. As the first major phase of the programme roll-out gathers momentum, we've been delighted by the enthusiasm from local people - demand for better connectivity is high and we're looking to break some records on the take-up of this incredible new service. We really want businesses and people to grasp this early advantage and translate it into real economic benefit; new jobs and opportunities for all."
Ranulf Scarbrough, BT's Superfast Cornwall programme director, said: "The roll-out of this high-speed technology is taking place at a world-class pace.
"We have an amazing team which is working very hard to meet the huge demand from local people and businesses. We are leading the way for the rest of the UK with new techniques and cutting-edge new technologies.
"A superfast broadband connection allows people to do much more online, all at the same time. For example, a family can download a movie, watch a TV replay service, surf the net and play games online simultaneously. The latest chart hit can be downloaded in around two seconds and a CD in 30 seconds. Upload speeds are the fastest in the UK, with large video and data files being sent almost instantly. Posting hi-resolution photos on Facebook takes seconds."
The new network is available on an open wholesale basis to all companies offering broadband services. Customers can check their phone line at www.superfastcornwall.org to see if they can get the service straightaway and if so, there are a number of internet service providers from which to choose. Prices start from as little as £18 per month. Introductory offers can be even cheaper.
By the end of 2014 at least 80 per cent of premises in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will have access to optical fibre broadband with alternative technologies, such as wireless and satellite, being used to boost speeds in locations where fibre is not currently viable.
Up to £53.5 million of the funding is coming from European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Convergence Programme, the largest ever single European investment in broadband infrastructure, whilst BT is investing up to £78.5 million.
Customers can find out more about the Superfast Cornwall 'Big Build' and get the latest information about their area at www.superfastcornwall.org
END
For further information
Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Regional Press Office on 0800 085 0660 or Cornwall Development Company on 01209 311104. All news releases can be accessed at: http://www.btplc.com/News.
For further information on the Superfast Cornwall programme visit www.superfastcornwall.org
Notes to Editors
Superfast broadband is already available in 17 Cornish communities - Truro, Liskeard, Launceston, Bude, Falmouth, Marazion, North Hill, Marhamchurch, Dobwalls, Chiverton Cross/Chacewater, St Agnes, St Day, Portreath, Devoran, Leedstown, Stenalees and Par.
Superfast fibre optic broadband can be delivered as "fibre to the cabinet" (FTTC) or "fibre to the premises" (FTTP). FTTC is where the fibre connection is from the exchange to the street side cabinet with the remainder of the connection being over copper. FTTC provides download speeds of up to 40Mbps and upload speeds of up to 10Mbps. Technical improvements should see these headline speeds roughly double during 2012. FTTP is where the fibre connection runs all the way from the exchange to the customers premises. This technology provides download speeds of up to 110Mbps and upload speeds of up to 30Mbps. And from next Spring FTTP download speeds will be boosted to up to 300Mbps.
Further information about next generation broadband is available from www.bt.com/ngb
About the Convergence Programme
The Superfast Cornwall programme is part financed by the European Union with up to £53.5 million from the European Regional Development Fund Convergence Programme.
For further information see: www.convergencecornwall.com
Convergence helpline telephone: 0800 0280120.
In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly the Convergence programmes are made up of European Regional Development Fund (£374 million) and European Social Fund (£153 million) Convergence Programmes and will run until 2013.
The ERDF Programme investment is intended to boost the region's economy by providing focussed support for business creating better quality, higher paid jobs. This support includes training and access to higher education, strengthening links between academia and business, improved IT infrastructure, additional high quality workspace and specialist support to boost business productivity.
About Cornwall Development Company
Cornwall Development Company Ltd is the economic development company for Cornwall Council and its mission is to achieve sustainable prosperity for all in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
Further information is available at www.cornwalldevelopmentcompany.co.uk
About Openreach
Openreach is responsible for the last mile of the UK access network - the copper wires and fibre connecting homes and businesses to their local telephone exchanges. Openreach provides communications providers with services and products associated with that network.
About BT
BT is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to our customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.
In the year ended 31 March 2011, BT Group's revenue was £20,076m with profit before taxation of £1,717m.
British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.
For more information, visit www.btplc.com
