PERMANENT connection to the worldwide web looks set to become reality for the majority of homes and businesses across Devon over the coming year.
BT has just unveiled its latest initiative to bring broadband to a further 44 exchanges across Devon, bringing the total percentage of broadband-enabled establishments to 99.6.
The most recent exchanges to be encompassed in the plans supply more than 35,500 households between them and include Bere Alston, Bratton Clovelly, Cheriton Bishop, Exbourne, Lewdown, North Tawton, Princetown and Roborough.
Upgrading of these exchanges will begin in October this year and BT hopes to complete their enablement by July 2005.
Lizzie Beesley, BT regional director, said: ?People have been keen to know when they will have access to broadband and this news from BT will allow them to plan ahead with confidence.
?Now that we will have virtually universal broadband availability in Devon, the focus must inevitably turn to driving take-up ? to ensure that many more businesses exploit broadband?s speed and cost-effectiveness.?
One of the benefitting exchanges, Princetown, is particularly delighted with the news as it means the local computer training centre can finally fulfil its potential.
Pat Marshall, from the High Moorland Community Action, said: ?We have been running the campaign to get broadband enabled in Princetown since last year, and are delighted it has been achieved.
?As a centre it means we can provide broadband training for the community and complete our objectives more fully.
?We can become part of the UK on-line training group to provide greater training opportunities for people and businesses in the area and we can advise people on setting up broadband in their homes and at work.?
There are still tiny pockets of the county which have not yet received confirmation of broadband enablement, and these are the places to which BT and other broadband initiatives now find themselves turning.
Piers Corfield, project director for Broadband4Devon, the public and private sector broadband partnership, said: ?BT?s announcement that we will have 99.6% broadband coverage in Devon by July 2005 is great news for businesses and consumers alike.
?Our challenge now is to look at a range of alternative technologies to ensure that we can get broadband into the most remote areas.?
The 12 smallest exchanges in Devon, which include Chillaton, Drewsteignton, Lydford and Postbridge, are not included in the latest upgrades as they do not have broadband triggers because of their size.
However, BT intends to continue working with the public sector and other organisations to bring broadband to these communities and has several potential solutions up its sleeve, including wireless and satellite broadband as well as Exchange Active community broadband.