BT Confirms 2nd Stage Super-Fast Broadband

BT (www.BT.com) has confirmed locations for the second stage of its roll out of super-fast broadband, with Barry, Caerphilly and Penarth in South Wales set to be upgraded to fibre optic broadband within the next year.

In total, 30,000 homes and businesses across the UK will be upgraded. This follows the first stage locations of Cardiff, Whitchurch and London’s Muswell Hill which are currently trialling the new technology.

BT is aiming for one million UK homes to have access to the new fibre broadband network by March 2010, with ten million homes (40% of the UK) planned by 2012.

The BT Director for Wales, Ann Beynon, said, “This is excellent news for Wales and continues our tradition of being a leader in the provision and adoption of broadband technologies. We are working closely with the Welsh Assembly Government, local authorities and partners across Wales to ensure that we remain at the leading edge of the communications revolution”.

Beynon continued, “Broadband has played a vital part in the Wales success story. Businesses are using it to boost their competitiveness and find new customers, while households are benefiting from new entertainment and educational opportunities”.

BT is set to spend £1.5 billion deploying its fibre optic broadband network across the UK.