BT today revealed the timetable to bring broadband to virtually the whole of North Yorkshire by July next year.

Fifty-four further exchanges are to be broadband-enabled in the latest stage of a £1 billion national investment.

More than 80 per cent of homes and businesses in North Yorkshire are already connected to a broadband-enabled BT exchange.

The latest stage of BT's rollout programme will take that figure to 99 per cent.

The 54 exchanges to be upgraded supply more than 41,000 households between them. BT will begin work on enabling the exchanges in October. Trevor Higgins, BT regional manager, said: "People have been keen to know when they will have access to broadband and this news from BT will allow them to plan ahead with confidence,

"Now that we will have virtually universal broadband availability in North Yorkshire, the focus must inevitably turn to driving take-up - to ensure that many more businesses exploit broadband's speed and cost-effectiveness.

"This is vital if they are to remain competitive in the national and global marketplace.

"It is our job, along with the partners we are working with, to get these messages across and to ensure that businesses and consumers alike are able to take advantage and benefit from the broadband revolution."

The 19 smallest exchanges in North Yorkshire will not be included in the upgrade programme at this stage.

These exchanges did not have triggers under the previous registration scheme due to their size.

BT says it will continue to seek to work in partnership with public sector and other organisations to help bring broadband to these 19 communities and has several potential solutions that include wireless and satellite broadband as well as the Exchange Activate community broadband solution.

Businesses criticised the plans as "misleading", because even where a BT exchange has been upgraded, some customers are unable to receive broadband because they live too far away - typically about six kilometres from the exchange.

BT acknowledges this and says that it is carrying out trials to extend the "reach" of broadband to up to 10 km, bringing the power of broadband to even more homes and businesses. Initial results were looking "very promising".

AMONG the first exchanges to be upgraded this year will be Burn on October 6, Darley on October 27, Dunnington on November 17, Flaxton Moor on December 1 and Snainton on December 15.

Next year's timetable (in alphabetical order), includes Ampleforth (May 11), Appleton Roebuck (July 20), Barkston Ash, (April 20), Bishop Monkton (May 18), Burythorpe (April 13), Camblesforth (July 13), Coneysthorpe (March 9), Coxwold (July 13), Helmsley (May 18), Helperby (March 16), Hemingbrough July 13), Hovingham (May 18), Huby, near Harrogate (April 13), Kirby Misperton (March 16), Lastingham (May 20), Melmerby (April 20), Riccall (July 20), Rillington (May 18), Robin Hoods Bay (April 27), Rufforth (January 12), Sandsend (April 27), Sheriff Hutton (April 13), Sinderby (April 27), Sleights (April 27), Spofforth (March 16), Stamford Bridge (March 16), Sutton-on-the-Forest (July 13), West Lutton (April 6), Whitley Bridge (January 19), and Whitwell-on-the-Hill (April 13)

The full timetable can be accessed at www.bt.com/broadband

Updated: 10:03 Thursday, July 01, 2004