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Rural Broadband: Next areas for superfast Shropshire revealed

The next areas in Shropshire that will get upgraded to superfast broadband have been revealed.

The Connecting Shropshire programme that has BT rolling out fibre broadband to 93 per cent of premises in the region has named the next 18 communities that are set to benefit from the broadband project.

Around 6,000 homes and businesses have already started to go live with the fibre technology early this year. These premises were announced last October.

The next tranche is about to go live directly after this first number from around Spring. The communities named are; Alberbury, Aston on Clun, Boningale, Clungunford, Cosford, Cross Lane Head, Halfway House, Little Brampton, Ploxgreen, Pontesford, Purslow, Quatford, Snailbeach, Stoke St. Milborough, Upton Magna, Westbury, Withington and Yockleton.

Connecting Shropshire is a partnership between Shropshire Council, BT and the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) that will enable more than 62,000 rural or very rural homes and businesses in Shropshire (excluding Telford and Wrekin) to access faster broadband.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council cabinet member responsible for broadband, said: “It’s great to be able to confirm even more areas as part of the first phase of the programme. For the people and businesses in these rural communities it’ll mean that they will be able to gain access to higher broadband speeds sooner than they thought; in this day and age, it’s becoming ever more important to have fast and reliable broadband to get on in business and in life.”  

Mike Cook, BT’s regional director for the West Midlands, said: “The internet is playing an increasingly important part in all our lives which is why the strong progress being made by Connecting Shropshire is so important. Whether it’s small businesses keeping in touch with their customers and suppliers, children doing their homework or playing interactive games online, grandparents staying in touch with their grandchildren, or people working from home. Each of these things is made easier, quicker and better by faster fibre broadband.”  

Residents can check if they can access fibre broadband by going to www.connectingshropshire.co.uk.

Image: Geograph/Trevor Rickard

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