BT boosts Yorkshire and Humber fibre broadband coverage

Another 72,000 properties in Yorkshire and the Humber are set to be upgraded to receive BT's fibre optic broadband service over the coming months.

Manningham, Hebden Bridge, Sharrow and Wadsley Bridge are among the latest communities to be included in the telecoms giant's super-fast broadband deployment, with the work due to be completed by spring 2013.

Over 545,000 homes and businesses in the region can already access fibre broadband from BT and another 515,000 are set to be hooked up later this year.

BT's partnership director John Anderson hailed the news, describing it as a big boost to local households and companies given the tough economic climate.

"Super-fast broadband can give our businesses a significant competitive edge, helping them save money and improve their services at the same time," he commented.

Elsewhere in Yorkshire, BT announced it will roll out fibre optic broadband to another 40,000 properties in Sheffield by next spring, taking the number of local premises with access to the service to more than 157,000.