MORE than 2,200 Bolton businesses and homes can benefit from high-speed fibre broadband after a £15 million pound Get Digital Faster programme was rolled out across the region.

The milestone was launched with the creation of a green street cabinet in Spa Road — with plans to install more than 70 of the units in Bolton by 2016.

These units are expected to eventually bring high-speed fibre broadband to more than 6,000 businesses and residential homes across the borough.

Get Digital Faster, which launched last year, is being delivered by Transport for Greater Manchester and BT on behalf of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and is funded by the broadband UK rural programme, the European Regional Development Fund and the eight borough councils in Greater Manchester.

The news has been welcomed by Bolton Council’s cabinet member for regeneration Ebrahim Adia, which he said will provide a boost for Bolton businesses.

He said: “I’m delighted that Bolton residents and businesses will start to benefit from further high-speed fibre broadband under the Get Digital Faster programme.

“Faster internet connections will particularly help our small to medium sized businesses to compete in a 21st century economy, and is key to encouraging business growth.”

The Bolton achievement follows a national announcement that the Broadband Delivery UK rollout of high-speed broadband has reached 2 million homes and businesses across the UK.

Bill Murphy, managing director of Next Generation Access, said: “Today marks a giant step forward in the rollout of fibre broadband in Bolton, Greater Manchester and across the UK.

“In Bolton more than 2,200 homes and businesses now have access to high-speed fibre broadband thanks to Get Digital Faster.

“Working in partnership with Bolton we have been able to reach into the heart of scores of communities across the region that have so far been beyond the reach of this vital technology.

“Residents and businesses in Bolton can look forward to download speeds of up to 80 megabits per second and upload speeds of up to 20Mbps*

The programme also links into a Business Growth Hub, which along with local councils will aim to provide businesses with the skills and expertise to make the most of the opportunities a sophisticated broadband network will provide.

For more information visit get-digital.info