BT makes major fibre broadband investment in south-west

South-west England is set to benefit from a major fibre optic broadband investment from BT.

Corsham, Highworth, Malmesbury, Pill and Westbury-on-Trym are among the latest communities in the region to be included in the national rollout, with the technology set to be deployed to another 41,700 homes and businesses during 2013.

In total, BT will deliver fibre optic broadband connectivity to eight south-west communities, taking the total number of local properties with access to the service to more than 1.25 million. Of these, 763,000 have already been connected.

Ian Larrard, director for Business West, said the rollout is "excellent news" for many of the region's residents and employers.

He added: "In a tough economic climate, this local investment from BT will help make the region an even better place to live, work and do business."

Elsewhere in the south-west, BT announced in May that fibre broadband had gone live in the Cornish town of Saltash, with almost 7,000 properties set to be hooked up to the technology.