OKEHAMPTON has hit its target to qualify for super-fast Internet access through the broadband service.

It comes hard on the heels of Tavistock whose telephone exchange was updated in May to cater for the high-speed facility.

Over the last few months, West Devon Borough Council and the Okehampton Market and Coastal Towns Initiative ? MCTi ? have led a campaign for broadband to be installed in the borough.

Earlier this year West Devon Borough Council sent out letters to almost 2,000 businesses urging them to register their interest in the service. And the MCTi group, a South West Regional Development Agency initiative to help the Okehampton community to plan its future, has been actively promoting the issue.

Mike Saunby, who is broadband co-ordinator of the Okehampton MCTi steering group, said they would continue to lobby for broadband access across the whole of the borough.

He said: ?It is great news for Okehampton. We have expressed concerns in the last 12 months that the town was lagging behind on broadband and this would have a negative effect on the economy of the area. This news is a great opportunity to move forward.

?We will continue to work towards ensuring that the villages and rural areas in the locality have the same means of access to broadband.?

West Devon councillor Dennis Bater, who represents E-government on the authority, said he was delighted. ?West Devon is a place remote from the bigger business centres and the introduction of broadband will allow faster and greater communication between businesses and their customers and partners.

?There is an opportunity now for broadband to transform businesses, whilst retaining local community character. Besides offering useful business resources, it can also offer opportunities for training, recruiting, advertising, travel arrangement, and learning or using new skills.?

Telephone exchanges can only be upgraded to broadband when a set number of people register their interest in the facility.

BT set the trigger levels for Okehampton at 250 and Tavistock at 300.

The advantages of broadband include: l Faster access to the World Wide Web, where you can find out new opportunities, business partners or publish products and services. l Allowing people to work from home and be connected to their works? HQ. l Simultaneously using your phone and staying online. l The potential to download at speeds of up to ten times faster than a normal modem connection.

Those wanting to register for Broadband can get more information by contacting their Internet service provider or visiting http://www.bt.com/broadband">www.bt.com/broadband