HIGH-SPEED fibre broadband has emerged as one of the hottest topics of recent years for communities across Lancashire.

Increasingly, it is a ‘must have’ technology.

Local households and businesses are using it for everything from selling products to filling in government forms, helping with education, adding to entertainment or simply staying in touch.

A great deal has already been achieved in Lancashire thanks to the multi-million pound Superfast Lancashire partnership between Lancashire County Council – along with Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen councils – BT and the government.

More than half a million premises in the county can now access fibre broadband as a result of the partnership and BT’s own commercial rollout of this exciting technology.

And the number of homes and businesses able to get fibre is growing rapidly. By the end of the year, Lancashire coverage is expected to have reached the 97 per cent mark.

But what about the people not yet included in any existing rollout plan and who don’t get included in the next stage of public funding?

We’ve just announced our commitment to work with communities to find a fibre solution and have set up a community fibre partnership scheme to enable this. Our strong ambition is never to say ‘no’ and rather to work together until we have agreed a suitable and affordable option.

Contacts us at www.openreach.co.uk/communityfibre.

Gavin Patterson, chief executive officer, BT (via email)