Darlington benefits from BT fibre broadband rollout

BT has rolled out fibre optic broadband to thousands of properties in Darlington, in a move welcomed by the local borough council.

The upgrades are set for completion in the coming weeks, by which time more than 31,000 homes and businesses in the area will be able to take advantage of superfast connectivity, reports the Northern Echo.

Darlington Borough Council, which partnered with BT to identify locations where fibre-to-the-cabinet technology could be installed, said the rollout is "really positive" for the town.

Councillor Chris McEwan, Cabinet Member for Economy and Regeneration at the local authority, explained that faster broadband has been cited by many town centre businesses as a pressing concern.

"This is evidence that the economic strategy is not just a piece of paper and that we have listened and worked with them," he commented.

Simon Roberson, BT's Regional Partnership Director for the north-east, revealed Darlington is one of the final large towns to receive access to fibre broadband, due to the unusual construction of its existing network.