Super-fast broadband access to be received by Calder Valley

It has been announced that one of the first areas in the country to receive super-fast broadband connections will be the Calder Valley area.

Among the 29 other areas that have been chosen by BT to receive the new fibre based broadband network by next year, which will allow for more data to be transferred through the network and much faster access, the Calder Valley will by one of only two rural areas that have been picked.

Broadband access to 20 000 businesses and homes in Halifax and 5 000 in the Calder Valley is to be rolled out by BT in the near future.

Seen as one of the largest investments in super-fast broadband in the UK, the project, which by 2012 could have 40 percent of business and households throughout the UK accessing the service, is set to cost £1.5 billion.

The Yorkshire and Humber regional director for BT, John Anderson said “This region is at the forefront of one of the most important projects to take place in recent years. It will play a vital role in the UK’s future as a knowledge-based economy.”

The chief executive of Yorkshire Forward, Tom Riordan said “Ensuring Yorkshire and Humber is at the forefront of broadband technologies is a priority of ours as the region’s development agency and a vital part of improving the economy.”

Households would have the speed to simultaneously play games, work with complex graphics, and watch films once the technology is implemented.

London, Glasgow, Belfast, Edinburgh, Greater Manchester and Cardiff are only amongst the other locations that will get the first installations.

The launching of consultations in Hebden Bridge for an alternative, self funding high speed broadband network that would be self funded and owned by and for the community at the end of last year has led to the recent announcement and is based around an initiative in Holland that has already been put in place.