Superfast broadband has arrived in Widdrington Station, Ulgham, Hadston, Broomhill and Red Row, iNorthumberland announced this week,
Almost 3,000 homes and businesses in these communities now have access to the high-speed, fibre technology and members of the iNorthumberland team will be visiting the area to explain why faster broadband is such good news.
CounDave Ledger, Chairman of Arch, the Northumberland Development Company, and Deputy Leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “We are well on target with rolling out superfast broadband across Northumberland, but we know many people still have questions about what it means for them – both residents and businesses. This is a great opportunity for people living in these communities to meet the team and find out more.
“Not everyone appreciates the huge benefits that fibre-optic broadband can bring to both consumers and businesses.
“And there are now more than 140 broadband providers offering services over the new Openreach high-speed network, which generates competition, which in turn means high speed broadband is cheaper than you might think.”
County Coun Scott Dickinson, who represents the Druridge Bay ward, said: “More and more of our lives are conducted online whether it is for shopping, learning, access to health care and other public services or even to search and apply for jobs. In an increasingly digital world fibre broadband is becoming as important as utilities like electricity and water.
“The upgrade does not happen automatically, to benefit you need to contact one of the broadband suppliers to upgrade to the new service. More information about how to do this can be found on the iNorthumberland website.”
The iNorthumberland team will be at the library in Widdrington Station on Wednesday, August 6, between 3pm and 5pm, and at Hadston House on Friday, August 8, between 10am and noon.
The iNorthumberland broadband programme is delivered by Arch, Northumberland County Council and BT.
BT is contributing £2.9million towards fibre deployment in non-commercial areas with Northumberland County Council investing £7million plus its £7million share of the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK programme. The remaining £2million is coming from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Fibre is transforming internet use at all levels.