BT promises business broadband upgrades

Firms in South Chard and other locations around the south-west have been promised by BT their business broadband options will be upgraded over the coming months.

According to the Chard and Ilminster News, the telecommunications provider has assured local residents and companies that they will soon enjoy access to top-quality internet.

It is part of BT's latest rollout of the best technology and will see speeds rise to more than twice the level of the average UK building.

Director of enterprise and skills at the South West Regional Development Agency Chris Garcia has reacted positively to news of the investment.

"We welcome this news as this will help drive the economic and employment recovery of the south-west and provide businesses with a distinct competitive advantage through earlier access to world class infrastructure," he stated.

"It will help to deliver a wide range of benefits including higher productivity, increased innovation, improved access to new markets and stimulate business opportunities."

A host of communities are set to benefit from the project, which could result in businesses at last having the infrastructure suited to running the latest technology, such as voice over internet protocol solutions and IP telephony products.

Among the destinations due to be involved in the upgrade are Yeovil, Chard and Taunton.

John Reynolds, BT's south-west regional director, said the commitment is further evidence of the company's determination to rollout high-quality broadband links in regions such as the West Country.

In addition to the plans, BT is to implement its Ethernet technology in Ilminster this spring.

The Plymouth Herald recently told how 6,000 premises in the city are to benefit from a BT upgrade to internet technology.

Both the Ilminster and Plymouth projects are part of an overall scheme in operation by the firm to improve infrastructure in more than 40 parts of the south-west.