Devon and Somerset UK Confirm First BDUK Areas for BT Fibre Broadband

The £94 million state aid supported joint Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) project to make BT’s superfast broadband (FTTC/P) services available to “around” 90% of local premises by the end of 2016 (original news) has today confirmed the first towns and villages to be upgraded.

The project initially aims to upgrade 15,000 homes and businesses by “early” 2014. But the first towns and villages to go live by the end of 2013 will include Sticklepath (near Okehampton), Bradford-on-Tone (work on the first two has apparently started “three months early”), Moretonhampstead, Holsworthy, Bishops Lydeard, Creech St Michael and Monkton Heathfield (near Taunton).

Bill Murphy, MD of NGA for BT Group, said:

“High-speed fibre broadband is a very exciting step forward for these communities. It will provide a major boost for local businesses and households. Whatever you do online you can do it better with fibre broadband.”

As well as the seven towns and villages, the “first phase of the programme” will also include extending fibre broadband in Taunton and Bridgwater, most of which have already been upgraded. Once complete it’s estimated that about 400,000 kilometres of new fibre optic cable will have been laid.