BURY residents and businesses are being urged to take advantage of steps being taken to give them access to super-fast broadband speeds.
The scheme was publicised on The Rock by representatives from Get Digital Faster, a multi-million pound partnership funded by the European Regional Development Fund, BT, Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), and Greater Manchester councils including Bury.
It is their 'Get Digital' ambition to become one of the world’s top 20 digital cities by 2020 by building a pioneering multi-million pound fibre network that will significantly improve Greater Manchester’s broadband speeds and improve accessibility.
Since the Get Digital Faster campaign began 12 months ago, more than 4,700 Bury businesses and homes can now benefit from high speed fibre broadband with 47 green street cabinets already going live across Bury.
As part of the push, businesses may also be able to benefit from the Government’s broadband connection voucher scheme which provides grants of up to £3,000 to small and medium sized businesses covering the costs of upgrading to faster broadband.
Angela Hornby, a representative of Get Digital Faster, said: “Many people think they will automatically get access to faster broadband, but this is not the case. Our aim is to promote the availability and benefits of superfast broadband to businesses and homes. We are delighted that The Rock allowed us to come along to enable us to do this.
“Faster broadband brings a variety of benefits to businesses and residents. Households can download films quicker, do their online shopping and go online simultaneously, all without the connection slowing down or crashing. Businesses are able to work faster and more efficiently which in turn boosts economic growth.”
Kay Richmond, spokeswoman for The Rock shopping centre, said: “It was a pleasure to meet the Get Digital Faster team and allow them access to businesses and shoppers on The Rock. We are always happy to support schemes which can benefit local residents and businesses.”
To find out more: visit www.get-digital-faster.info.
Further information about the Government’s broadband connection voucher scheme can be found at www.connectionvouchers.co.uk
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here