BT's new Adastral Park recruits to help with fibre broadband projects

Over 100 new apprentices and graduates employed at BT's Adastral Park technology and research headquarters are set to work on fibre optic broadband and other cutting-edge projects.

The telecoms giant has created the new positions as part of a wider recruitment drive, announced this week, that will see it take on more than 1,000 graduates and apprentices across the UK.

Referring specifically to the positions at Adastral Park, the company said the new recruits will be involved in everything from helping to pioneer new developments in fibre optic communications networks to assisting with future broadcasting and wireless technologies.

Researchers at the site recently achieved record-breaking real-world transmission speeds of 1.4Tbps over a fibre optic connection running from Adastral Park to the BT Tower in London, with the help of French telecoms equipment firm Alcatel-Lucent.

Dr Tim Whitley, Managing Director of Adastral Park, said: "I'm delighted that many of these new recruits will work in engineering and technology research, and that BT can play an extremely positive role by taking them on and advancing their skills through mentoring and training."