A NEW era of super-fast internet access for Okehampton users will soon be enabled with the news the town?s exchange will be upgraded to broadband ADSL next month.

The exchange is due to be upgraded to ADSL ? Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line ? by BT by September 24.

Okehampton hit its broadband trigger target back in June. Telephone exchanges can only be upgraded to broadband when a set number of people register their interest in subscribing to the service.

Pierre Morel, ICT strategy and client manager for West Devon Borough Council, said: ?The benefits of broadband are for both business and normal users.

?It allows internet access up to ten times faster than a modem which enables users to get information much quicker.

?You can use the same telephone line for internet and normal telephone, so you can receive a telephone call while you surf.?

Mr Morel said: ?Some towns in West Devon have got broadband, but really broadband should be made available throughout rural areas.?

For villages and small towns, other emerging technologies did exist, he said, but in any case the first step was to demonstrate the demand level in the local area. This can be done by contacting an internet service provider.

Mr Morel said there are also some initiatives that could help people living in remote areas get ADSL access, details