High-speed fibre broadband is being rolled out through Westminster , weeks after the council bemoaned “ painfully slow broadband speeds ”.
BT will make fibre available to an additional 39,874 local homes and businesses in the next two years, taking the company’s total coverage for fibre in the borough to nearly 106,000 premises.
The new investment in Westminster is part of a city-wide programme that will increase overall fibre availability in London.
Westminster City Council leader Philippa Roe said: “I’m delighted to see that BT Group is making a further investment in superfast fibre broadband within Westminster. I’ve been encouraging businesses and residents within the borough to register their interest in accessing superfast fibre broadband and it is great news to see this effort paying off.
“I would of course like all premises in the borough to have access to superfast fibre broadband and this is a good start in achieving that. I know our residents and businesses in the additional areas of Westminster where superfast fibre broadband will now be available will be very pleased.”
Earlier this month the council had criticised the lack of high-speed broadband in the borough. Westminster City Cabinet member for Business and Economic Development Councillor Daniel Astaire said: “Over half of Westminster is stuck with painfully slow broadband speeds, leaving London lagging behind other European capitals.
“This really affects our small businesses, who cannot afford to pay for business-grade lines.
“It is economically illiterate to hold back small businesses in the heart of London – we must support our entrepreneurs and give them the best possible chance of success.
“To do this we need to find a way to improve our broadband infrastructure and bring prices down.”
He added: “Westminster City Council will continue to lobby hard on behalf of our tens of thousands of small businesses and our residents.
“This is a major issue which does not just affect our borough, but the whole UK economy.
“We are all missing out on the economic benefits that providing businesses with superfast fibre broadband can bring.”
