Superfast broadband on way

New fibre broadband project at Oldham Council. Michele Carr (Assistant Executive Director Economic Development and Planning- OMBC), Eamonn Boylan (Greater Manchester Combined Authority) and Mike Blackburn (BT).

A MULTI-million pound boost to broadband in to Greater Manchester’s will benefit thousands of homes and businesses across Oldham.

The first Get Digital Faster cabinet was launched in Fowler Street, near the Civic Centre, this morning.

The cabinet will supply high-speed broadband to the near-by area, and residents can check with their internet service provider to see if they can upgrade.

The £15 million project aims to boost the Greater Manchester economy by delivering high-speed broadband to a further 45,000 homes and businesses in the region.

The Get Digital Faster programme is being delivered by BT and Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

It builds on existing commercial fibre broadband networks — already put in by a range of providers — to extend availability and ensure Greater Manchester has faster broadband speeds and improved accessibility.

The project is due to be in place by March, 2016, and could see a near £80 million boost to the region’s economy and the creation of around 500 new jobs.

As part of the partnership, ERDF is contributing nearly £5 million, with a further £3 million coming from the BDUK fund. BT is contributing £4.6 million towards the overall cost of deployment within the areas covered by the programme, and the eight councils are investing £2.5 million.