A MASSIVE boost is to be given to broadband connections for businesses and residents in York over the next year.

BT has announced there will be another 19,000 connections in the city to faster “next generation” broadband by spring 2011.

In York, there are 42,000 homes and businesses connected to the high-speed technology. Now, a further 12,000 businesses and householders in Melrosegate and 7,000 in Dringhouses are set to join them.

Another 9,000 connections will be made to properties and firms in Ripon and 7,000 in Knaresborough.

These are among 26 communities in Yorkshire included in the latest roll-out plans for BT’s pioneering 21st Century Network.

The BT investment makes broadband speeds of up to 24 Mb/s available – more than double the maximum speeds previously available to most UK homes and businesses.

BT intends to roll-out these higher speed services to exchanges serving around 75 per cent of the UK – 20 million homes and businesses – by next spring. The more than 300 UK exchanges have been named that will be upgraded in this phase of the programme, representing another 2.8 million homes and businesses.

The network is available on an open, wholesale basis to all companies providing broadband services. Half of all lines in Yorkshire have already been upgraded. The faster speeds are delivered over copper lines.

John Anderson, BT’s regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber, said: “This faster broadband service will play a major role in helping our region attract and retain inward investment.

“It is a major step forward offering numerous improvements and opportunities – and faster broadband for many customers in the region. Companies providing broadband services can customise their products and services to more closely match the needs of businesses and households.

“Services delivered over next generation broadband can be quicker, more efficient and offer a much wider range of features than those previously available.

“For householders, the service supports the growing demand for high-speed access to a range of online services, including high definition television, online gaming and a range of other internet and communications services.

“For businesses, it enables smaller firms to operate like bigger companies, quickly responding to changes in the market in a way once only available to much larger enterprises.

“For example, companies, such as restaurants, hotels or estate agents, can quickly and easily voice-enable their websites so their customers can access the information over the phone rather than via a computer screen.”