BT connects first Sevenoaks homes to fibre broadband

The first homes and businesses in Sevenoaks have been hooked up to BT's fibre optic broadband service, the telecoms giant has confirmed.

Over the coming weeks, up to 11,500 properties in the Kent commuter town will be connected to the service, taking the number of premises in the county with BT fibre broadband access to around 150,000.

Another 338,000 properties in the area have been earmarked for inclusion in BT's infrastructure upgrade plans either later this year or at some point in 2012.

John Weaver, regional director for BT in the south-east, described the news as a "huge boost" for local homes and businesses.

"They're joining the more than five million UK premises now passed by what we believe to be the world's fastest growing fibre network," he added.

Last month, BT deployed its fibre broadband service to a further 22,000 properties in Kent, with the communities of Folkestone and Westgate among those to benefit from the rollout.