RESIDENTS in Sandown will be among around 152,000 more South East homes and businesses to have access to faster broadband by the Spring of next year, BT have announced.

A further 23 communities in the region are included in the latest roll-out plans for BT’s pioneering 21st Century Network (21CN). A well as Sandown mainland areas of Hornden, Blackwater, Bursledon, Hamble and Harestock are also included.

Inside a year lines serving up to 73 per cent of premises in the region – more than 2.7 million households and businesses – will have been upgraded. The BT investment makes broadband speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps) available – more than double the maximum speeds previously available to the majority of UK homes and businesses.

John Weaver, BT’s South East regional director, said: “This latest major investment in next generation broadband represents a huge BT vote of confidence in the future of the South West. It will help ensure that businesses and households in the region are in a strong position to thrive. Faster broadband can help businesses become more competitive and greatly improve the on-line services available to households.”