Sussex ready to go super-fast (From The Argus)

Sussex ready to go super-fast

10:27am Tuesday 16th June 2009

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)

Super-fast broadband has arrived in Sussex.

Hundreds of businesses now have access to ADSL2+, which offers download speeds of up to 20Mb per second, more than double the current level of 8Mb per second.

At the moment, it is offered as a free upgrade for BT customers. However, the technology should also be available from other broadband suppliers.

The speed can be reached by any home or business connected to telephone exchanges across Brighton and Hove as well as Bognor, Burgess Hill, Chichester, Crawley, East Grinstead, Eastbourne, Haywards Heath, Horsham and Worthing central.

According to Phil Jones, managing director of Wired Sussex, an independent organisation supporting the county’s digital media businesses, super-fast broadband is vital for the region’s economy.

He said: “The next-generation broadband is crucial to delivering economic and social value. It’s a key element in building the knowledge economy and can be part of growing a sustainable local economy.

“In business terms, it encourages efficiency by saving time, facilitates expansion by enabling people to do more and generates innovation by allowing people to think and do in new ways.

“But it is also crucial for educating citizens, creating an informed local democracy, for cultural understanding and supporting inclusive communities.”

James Bowes offers technical support to Winkworth estate agents in Chatsworth Road, Worthing, which was opened by his mother, Marjorie, and sister Laura.

He said the fast broadband had enabled them to install a telephone switchboard using voice over internet protocol technology.

Mr Bowes said: “It is a complete switchboard system, which runs on the internet and allows us to give each extension their own direct dial while still being able to work online.

“It’s reliable and cheap – each extension only costs £5, compared with the normal charge of £15.

“It helps us give better customer service because it is flexible and means clients are not put on hold or left listening to an engaged tone.”

In a separate move, BT is beginning trials of up to 40Mb per second fibre-based broadband in parts of London and is currently delivering 100Mb per second to customers in new-build estates in Kent, using fibre-to-the-premise technology.

It is hoped these speeds will be achievable in parts of Sussex in the future.

For more information about super-fast broadband, visit www.bt.com/business/totalbroadband.

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Comments(0)