Demand for fibre broadband soars across Merseyside

More businesses and households in Merseyside are signing up for high-speed internet connections than ever before, according to new data.

Merseyside Connected, the multi-million pound partnership between the area’s five local councils and telecoms giant BT, confirmed it has now delivered fibre-optic broadband technology to almost 60k homes and companies across the county.

Recent figures show that the number of Merseyside properties using the faster connections has more than tripled over the last 12 months, with just over a fifth (21%) now signed up to fibre broadband. This time last year, that figure stood at 6%.

The technology, which offers download speeds as fast as 80Mbps, was recently rolled out to parts of St Helens, Allerton, Birkdale and Prescot.

Openreach, BT’s local network business, is carrying out all of the Merseyside Connected engineering work.

Cllr Gary Millar, Liverpool City Council’s Mayoral lead for business and international trade, said: “Fibre broadband is transforming the lives of people in Merseyside. So much we do these days relies on a fast internet connection whether we’re at home or at work.

“And demand for better, faster broadband in Merseyside is clear – in the past year three times more homes and businesses have signed up to use the new technology installed as part of the Merseyside Connected programme.”

Cllr James Noakes, Liverpool’s Mayoral lead for energy and smart cities, commented: “I welcome the progress that has been made under the Merseyside Connected scheme, which has clearly benefited many people.

“We are absolutely determined to build on this work in order to maximize investment and business growth by continuing to explore options for further improving digital connectivity in Liverpool and across Merseyside.”

BT’s North West regional director, Mike Blackburn, said he is delighted the programme has proven so popular.

He added: “The technology really does have the ability to transform the way people and businesses use the internet.

“When combined with the commercial rollout, 98% of Merseyside homes and businesses should be able to access fibre broadband by September 2016.”