News story

13th May 2003

Good News on Broadband for Pilning/Severn Beach and Wick/Pucklechurch

Northavon MP Steve Webb has welcomed the announcement by BT that two extra local telephone exchanges have now been set targets for conversion to the fast “broadband” technology. Under the scheme, local residents are encouraged to register their interest in having broadband in their home or business, and when the number of registrations reaches the target level, BT will upgrade the telephone exchange. The Thornbury exchange already
has a target level of 300 registrations, with over 220 local residents having signed up so far, whilst the Winterbourne exchange has a target of 350, with just over 200 residents recording their interest.

However, in a letter to Steve Webb, BT have indicated that two further local exchanges have now been set a target level. The Pilning exchange, which serves Pilning and Severn Beach and parts of Easter Compton, has been set a target of 400 registrations. The Abson exchange, which serves Wick and Pucklechurch, has a target of 300 registrations. Because it was possible to register interest in exchanges where no target had been set, both exchanges are already some way towards meeting their target. In the case of Pilning over 165 local residents had pre-registered their interest, and for Abson the figure was 162.

Steve Webb said:

“I very much welcome this further step towards making broadband technology as widely available as possible. This time last year only one local exchange had a target set by BT, and now that has risen to four.

"Technological improvements have meant that some of the targets have come down, and I hope that this process will continue. I am very keen for as many local people as possible to be able to benefit from broadband, whether for work, study or leisure, and this is an important step forward.”

Grassroots campaigns are already established in Thornbury and in
Winterbourne to encourage people to register their interest for broadband. In Thornbury, Matt Morgans has created a site:
www.thornbury.uk.com/broadband , whilst for Frampton/Winterbourne, Chris Haskins has created www.broadband4winterbourne.co.uk.


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Note to editors: Two exchanges in the Northavon constituency are already enabled for broadband — these are the Yate/Sodbury exchange and the Almondsbury exchange (which serves Aztec West). Broadband can also be accessed via cable which is available in some areas, including parts of Thornbury. Once a BT telephone exchange is enabled for broadband, consumers can then use one of a range of suppliers (not just BT) for their broadband connection.