The village of Hipperholme can now benefit from superfast, fibre broadband speeds thanks to Superfast West Yorkshire.
Hipperholme is the latest of many Calderdale communities to be upgraded to superfast broadband as part of the multi million pound partnership.
19 fibre broadband cabinets have been installed in the village, enabling just under 4000 homes and businesses to access the new fibre technology, which delivers download speeds of up to 80Mbps and upload speeds of up to 20Mbps
Cllr Barry Collins, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development:
“Bit by bit communities right across Calderdale are benefitting from the Council’s major investment in the Superfast West Yorkshire scheme, along with BT and other local councils.
“So many people treat broadband now as the fourth utility, so it’s great to hear that Hipperholme now has access to faster and more reliable speeds.
“By September 2015 we’re hoping that virtually the whole of the borough will have access to Superfast Broadband, bringing the benefits to homes and businesses in the area.”
The arrival of faster broadband brings many benefits to the town. Fibre broadband at home means everyone in the family can do their own thing online, all at the same time, whether it’s downloading music in minutes or watching catch-up TV; streaming HD or 3D movies in a few minutes; or posting photos and videos to social networking sites in seconds. Fibre improves the quality of online experiences and supports new developments in internet services.
Benefits for businesses include faster file and data transfers, better access to cloud computing services and software, more sophisticated web-based contact with customers and support for more flexible working.
In order to take advantage of the higher speeds now available, residents and businesses should contact their broadband service provider.
Tom Keeney, BT’s regional director for Yorkshire and Humber, said: “BT has led the roll out of superfast broadband in the UK and, working in partnership with Superfast West Yorkshire, is playing a huge part in helping Calderdale become one of the best connected areas in the UK.
“Local people may have noticed our green street cabinets being installed. This everyday street furniture is where the magic happens. As millions of UK households and businesses have discovered, fibre broadband opens up a whole new world to internet users.
“We are very focused not just on delivering the high-speed infrastructure but making sure that the benefits are fully exploited. I would encourage people to contact the service provider of their choice to find out what faster internet could do for them.”
More than 59,000 homes and businesses in West Yorkshire are now able to connect to high-speed fibre broadband as a result of the Superfast West Yorkshire programme which is due to complete by the end of September 2015.
Superfast West Yorkshire builds on BT’s commercial investment of £2.5 billion to rollout fibre broadband to two-thirds of UK premises. Leeds City Council, Bradford Metropolitan District Council, Wakefield Council and Calderdale Council are working with BT to extend high-speed fibre broadband to 97 per cent of households and businesses across the majority of West Yorkshire by the end of 2015. The programme also aims to ensure all premises in this area have access to speeds of more than 2Mbps.
The £21.96 million investment is made up of Government funding from Broadband Delivery UK combined with funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), BT and the four West Yorkshire local authorities.
The new network is available on open, wholesale basis to all broadband service providers, thereby ensuring competitive products and pricing for local businesses and households.
For more information about the project or to find out when superfast broadband will be delivered in your area visit www.get-fibre.co.uk(external link)