Communities benefit from faster broadband

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THOUSANDS of homes in two villages now have access to faster broadband as the county continues to be upgraded.

Badsey and Inkberrow are the latest communities to benefit from BT's next generation broadband service which is delivered over copper lines.

More than 5,000 homes and businesses have been given access to the new technology which allows for download speeds of up to twenty megabytes per second - more than double the speed previously available from BT.

The service is already available in Evesham and other areas have been earmarked for upgrades in the coming months including Pershore, Broadway, Bredon and Cropthorne.

Mike Ashton, chief executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce said: "We welcome this latest investment by BT.

"The expansion of improved communications services is key to the success and livelihood of our communities especially in rural counties like Worcestershire."

John Dovey, BT's West Midlands regional director, said the new technology will boost businesses and family life in the area.

"This is an important step forward for Worcestershire," he added. "In these challenging economic times faster broadband can help businesses become more competitive, find new customers and work more flexibly.

"It also greatly improves the online services available to families, homeworkers and other internet users.

"By the summer, around 87 per cent of the regions homes and businesses will be served by an exchange that has been upgraded to deliver these higher speeds."