Super broadband to boost economy
Last updated at 12:23, Thursday, 28 June 2012
WHITEHAVEN is to get superfast broadband and BT is predicting that its investment could help create new businesses and hundreds of jobs.
The announcement means that 10,400 homes and businesses in Whitehaven will get the fibre broadband in 2013 which is likely to bring speeds of up to 80 megabits per second for domestic users.
And BT says that its investment in Whitehaven is likely to be a massive economic boost to the town.
It has highlighted recent research by Regeneris Consulting predicted that over the next 15 years BT’s fibre broadband could give the economy of a typical town a £143 million boost, create 225 new jobs and 140 new start-up businesses.
Jamie Reed, MP for Copeland, welcomed the announcement, saying: “This is excellent news for many people in Cumbria. They’re the latest in the region who will soon have access to the next generation of internet services.
“Reliable, fast connections can make all the difference to education and business, and give people much greater scope for interaction with the world around them. In a tough economic climate, this investment will help make Cumbria an even better place to live, work and do business, and will help to develop the Energy Coast programme.”
John Grainger, managing director of Invest In Cumbria, said: “Super-fast broadband is an essential building block to economic recovery and growth. It will give firms in Whitehaven a boost and bring a competitive edge in attracting new businesses, jobs and investment. Residents will also benefit from being able to do more, better and faster, online.”
The fibre deployment also means that businesses will be able to take advantage of even higher speeds of 330Mbps which BT aims to have commercially available in any area where fibre broadband has been deployed.
Such speeds would be achieved by paying for a FTTP (fibre to the premises) service where fibre runs all the way to the home or business rather than just a nearby cabinet.
Mike Blackburn, BT’s regional director for the North West, said: “The arrival of fibre broadband in Whitehaven is a massive shot in the arm for the local economy, creating new businesses, jobs and educational opportunities.
“The benefits are major and wide ranging. As our new fibre network expands across region it also brings new potential for offering essential public services on-line and cost savings across the sectors. Local firms and households who make the switch to fibre broadband will be able to do so much more with their connection, whether they’re using it for business, entertainment, education, social networking or shopping – or all of these at once.”
First published at 11:08, Thursday, 28 June 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk
How absurd are the comments regarding the benefits of having the place booming because of the broadband speed,are you seriously telling me their are 140 businesses sitting waiting for this before they can start,i think it has more to do with financial matters starting a business not whether the internet is good,just because the some of the locals look stupid please don't insult our intellegence and assume we are.
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As someone who was born in Whitehaven, grew up in Whitehaven, and worked in Whitehaven and the surrounding area I must say to you James, the answer is many businesses cry out for faster broadband.
I moved out of the area because the nature of the work that i do (I.T.) requires me to be able to provide support to a number of businesses throughout the UK & Beyond.The key thing to note about the majority of the business to which i provide I.T. support, is that they all rely heavily on the internet, and a high speed broadband connection is essential.Fast internet would suit an area like Copeland extremely well - even if it was just initially limited to Whitehaven, with Westlakes Science Park to follow.The reasons it would suit the area well, are that the internet enables companies to compete with other companies anywhere in the world, or for that matter, anywhere in the UK, and currently unless you work at that nuclear site down t' road, there is a good chance you earn an income lower than the national average for the type of job that you do.Creative Digital Industries tend to work very well when they have access to the Internet.Another thing I would love to be able to buy from Whitehaven via the internet is the local produce - Sadly my favourite local butcher - Wils Hambling - does not deliver to Gloucestershire - but you can't order from them online via the internet either.If you want to know what's been killing shops in Whitehaven for all these years, I will tell you, it's not the Council's increasingly high business rates i would argue excessive - it's the internet.Now, just remind yourself one thing.If Whitehaven folk can't order stuff online from Whitehaven, nobody can.Posted by Allan Wallace on 4 July 2012 at 22:05