Residents and businesses have received a major boost with the news that engineering work is now well under way on the £5.6m programme to rollout superfast broadband across Telford and Wrekin.
Engineers from Openreach – BT’s local network provider – are laying fibre optic broadband cables and installing new roadside cabinets in Dawley following months of surveys and planning work. As a result, the first residents and businesses in Dawley, Oakengates and Great Bolas will be able to start upgrading from winter this year. Over the lifetime of the Superfast Telford project, 430km of fibre cabling will be laid – enough to go round the Wrekin 86 times.
It means that 98% of homes and businesses in the borough will be able to access superfast broadband when the project’s roll-out is combined with private sector programmes. Shaun Davies of Telford & Wrekin Council said, “This will support local businesses to more easily and efficiently connect with customers while coping with ever-changing business needs as they develop and grow.”