Suffolk: Broadband Plans Online

29 May 2013, 06:00 | Updated: 29 May 2013, 08:03

People from Suffolk are going to be able to go online to see when broadband in the area will improve.

A new website indicating when areas of Suffolk will start to benefit from better broadband will be unveiled at the Suffolk Show today.

Local residents and business owners will be able to go online to learn more about plans for better broadband across Suffolk and when they can expect to receive faster speeds in their local area.

The website, jointly-created by Suffolk County Council and BT, provides an interactive map of Suffolk showing the latest information on the Better Broadband for Suffolk programme. Regular updates from the programme will be posted online and as new coverage areas become ready to be built, the map will be updated.

Suffolk County Council’s leader and chair of the Better Broadband for Suffolk programme, Councillor Mark Bee, said “Initial planning and survey work is well underway and we’re now heading into the delivery phase of the Better Broadband for Suffolk programme. So I’m delighted to be able to share with people more details about when and where faster broadband will be rolled out.

 “By the end of 2015, Suffolk County Council is committed to ensuring that every property in Suffolk will have access to broadband speeds of at least 2Mbps and 85% of homes and businesses will be able to get speeds of 24 Mbps or above. That’s something we are incredibly proud to be making happen.

“The Better Broadband for Suffolk programme was set up to improve broadband access for everyone. Things are really starting to happen now.”

The new fibre-based broadband infrastructure in Suffolk aims to provide faster broadband for around 200,000 Suffolk homes and businesses.

Dave Hughes, BT’s regional director for the East of England said, "There has been a great deal of hard work taking place behind the scenes and by the end of 2013 we will be in a position to get this service to the first people in Suffolk under this programme. The website is a vital resource for the people of Suffolk showing them the very latest information on the programme.”

In total, over £40 million is going to be invested in Suffolk's broadband network over the next 15 years. Suffolk County Council and the county's seven district and borough councils are collectively investing £11.68 million in the programme, matched by £11.68 million from Government and £18 million from BT.