Homes and businesses in Burnham-On-Sea look set to get ‘superfast broadband’ by the year 2016 after Somerset County Council this week announced a multi-million pound deal with the government and BT to improve Internet connections.
Connecting Devon and Somerset, which is delivering the project, says the new technology will create new jobs by attracting new businesses.
Superfast fibre optic broadband will deliver connection speeds in excess of 24 Megabits per second (Mbps) – a big increase on Somerset’s current average of about 8Mbps.
Both Devon and Somerset County Councils have contributed £10m to the scheme, BT has invested £41m and the remainder of the funding has come from the Department for Culture Media and Sport through the government’s Broadband Delivery UK and other public sector partners.
Surveying work on the project will start immediately and the first locations to be upgraded will be announced during Spring 2013. The roll-out will contiune over the next three years.
Councillor David Hall, Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council, said: “Fast and reliable internet is becoming more important to daily life and going online will soon be the only way to access some key public services. Superfast and improved broadband will help us to strengthen our economy, grow and develop our businesses while enhancing community activities. This is an important milestone for all who live and work in our region.”
