Superfast Broadband South Yorkshire
Superfast broadband is the next generation of broadband − providing a faster and more reliable service.
It uses fibre optic technology to deliver speeds which can top 80Mbps.
And the speed and reliability of a single superfast connection means it can support multiple computers, tablets and phones – meaning the entire family can be online at the same time.
In September 2014, South Yorkshire joined forces with BT in a multi-million pound deal to extend the availability of high-speed, fibre broadband to around 98 per cent of homes and businesses.
The Superfast South Yorkshire project will make South Yorkshire an even more attractive place to live and do business, bringing new investment to the region and generating an economic return of more than £270 million.
The project will cost £22 million, to be funded jointly by BT, Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and South Yorkshire partners. South Yorkshire partners are the four local authorities of Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster. A significant measure of the programme’s success will be driving awareness of the benefits offered by fibre broadband and adoption of this high-speed broadband technology.
The project will build upon BT’s commercial roll-out which is already making fibre broadband available more than 242,500 homes and businesses across South Yorkshire, as part of its plan to reach around two-thirds of UK premises.
The roll-out plans will be announced in the coming months, following a period of surveying and planning. The first communities across South Yorkshire can look forward to improved access to online services and better connectivity for businesses from summer 2015 onwards.
The majority of South Yorkshire premises will be getting access to some of the best broadband speeds boosting the competitiveness of local firms and offering new ways of flexible working, entertainment and learning opportunities for local residents.
Fibre is transforming internet use within the home, from communicating with family and friends to entertainment, shopping and online gaming.
Fibre broadband 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. It will also improve access to new job opportunities, and make it easier to shop around for cheaper services.
The benefits are also considerable for businesses, which can do much more in far less time. Firms can speed up file and data transfers, collaborate with colleagues and customers on conference or video calls or swap their hardware and expensive software licenses for files, processing power and software from cloud computing. Staff can work as effectively from home as they would in the office.
The project is part of Broadband Delivery UK’s Superfast Extension Programme, previously known as the Rural Programme, which aims to increase superfast broadband access in rural areas.
