Broadband project delights Rother

Broadband services which increase computer data movements are on the horizon with a new partnership project.

This partnership of council, business and BT Retail will copy an experiment in Cornwall which is expected to generate 1,000 jobs.

The Hastings and Rother area is to be one of only five in England where they are prioritising for broadband internet development.

A delighted Rother leader Graham Gubby said it showed the Hastings and Rother Task Force was really putting the area on the national map.

Broadband is a vast improvement on the current data transmission system and will give an enormous lift to small and medium sized companies.

A BT Retail spokesman said the project was still in the discussion stage with details to be announced later.

Cllr Gubby said: "I very much welcome BT's support for us. The task force has worked hard behind the scenes to encourage BT to recognise the social and economic benefits of broadband in this area.

"This announcement is an indication that the task force partnership is now really beginning to deliver the start of true benefits to this area.

"It will mean we can show BT and other providers that there is a demand for broadband here and that it will really improve the quality of our lives across the district in social, educational and commercial terms. It will create the evidence to force BT to open up the other three exchanges we need, including Cooden."