PHILIP Dunne MP has welcomed further roll out of broadband throughout Shropshire and in particularly to 10 more exchanges in the Ludlow constituency

This is all part of the Connecting Shropshire high speed broadband programme.

As part of the £24.6 million programme, work has already begun in the next 25 exchange areas, giving more people access to higher broadband speeds over the next 14 months.

“I am pleased that the next stage of this programme has been announced so that more households and businesses will have access over coming months to fast, reliable broadband in rural south Shropshire,” said Mr Dunne.

“Improving access to broadband in Shropshire is increasingly important.

“So many people need faster broadband to study, access public services and information, help develop their businesses, explore new online markets and suppliers, and to create new investment and jobs for local people in Shropshire.

"I welcome this latest phase of Connecting Shropshire’s high speed broadband roll out."

In the Ludlow constituency the exchange areas are Broseley, Bucknell, Church Stretton, Clee Hill, Cleobury Mortimer, Clun, Craven Arms, Highley, Much Wenlock and Quatt, with the first exchanges going live this summer.

Work will also be carried out to connect areas of Ludlow and Bridgnorth not currently covered by commercial operators.

High speed broadband is expected to go ‘live’ in Bucknell, Church Stretton, Craven Arms and Much Wenlock from this summer. The other exchange areas will start to go live later in the year. Work to connect the remaining areas of Bridgnorth and Ludlow is also likely to commence in the second half of this year.

A campaign group is actively calling for improved broadband in rural area.

The group that covers the Marches, including Ludlow and south Shropshire, believes that the roll out of broadband has been too slow and has called for more innovative technologies to be used.

These include the use of wi-fi links to cover isolated areas where the installation of new cables is considered to be too expensive or difficult.