A HUGE spurt in the broadband programme for North Yorkshire was announced today by BT, which plans to offer the high-speed internet facility to virtually every business and householder in the county by summer 2005.

It means that the old broadband registration trigger scheme launched in July 2002 is ditched in favour of a plan to upgrade a further 54 exchanges in the county, boosting coverage from 78 per cent to 99 per cent.

That is good news for rural settlements like Ampleforth, Bishop Monkton, Burn and Huby, which have been struggling to drum up enough registrations to justify the expense by BT.

It is applauded by both the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce and york-england.com, the newly-empowered inward investment board which covers the county.

Andrew Lindsay, vice-president of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce which represents about 1,000 businesses, said: "This is excellent news.

"North Yorkshire is the biggest county in England. Now the smallest village at its furthest point can consider itself part of the technological universe, in the same way as York or even New York."

Imelda Havers, chief executive of york-england.com, said: "This will make North Yorkshire even more attractive to potential inward investors."

Brian Greenwood, BT regional director, said: "BT has continued to innovate in order to drive broadband as an enabler for tomorrow's society. We want to deliver a truly broadband Britain that includes everyone who lives and works in North Yorkshire.

"The broadband registration scheme has been a powerful tool for us to match investment to demand and its fantastic success, with the support of local campaigners, has set the way for other countries to follow.

"Now, as we move into more and more rural areas and we have a clearer picture of growing demand, there are real benefits to be gained through a planned roll-out. It means we can get broadband to far more people in a short timeframe."

The roll-out programme for the 54 exchanges in North Yorkshire will be announced by the end of June. It will help BT bring forward some previously published broadband switch-on dates.

Mr Greenwood praised local campaigners in North Yorkshire, who he said, had made "a phenomenal difference".

He said: "These local heroes have helped change the market, which in turn has contributed to our decision to take this approach.

"Making broadband technology available is vital, but encouraging business and consumers to take full advantage of it is also a key part of the Broadband Britain equation. So BT will continue to seek to work in partnership to increase broadband take-up."

But not all areas of North Yorkshire will be in the loop by summer next year. The 19 smallest community exchanges will not be included in the upgrade programme. These were exchanges so tiny that they were not even included in the registration trigger scheme.

But BT has promised to seek to work in partnership with public sector and other organisations to bring broadband to them.

Other solutions are being sought such as wireless and satellite broadband to help these communities to "go live" as well.

The haves and the have-nots

Will YOU be given the capability of operating a high speed internet, which can be operated without interference while talking on the telephone and capable of downloading huge files quickly?

The 54 places in North Yorkshire where people can celebrate the good broadband news include - Ampleforth, Appleton Roebuck, Barkston Ash, Bishop Monkton, Burn, Burythorpe, Camblesforth, Coneysthorpe, Coxwold, Dunnington, Flaxton Moor, Helmsley, Helperby, Hemingbrough, Hovingham, Huby, Hunmanby, Hutton Sessay, Kirby Misperton, Kirkby Malzeard, Lastingham, Riccall, Rillington, Rufforth, Sheriff Hutton, Sinderby, Snainton, Spofforth, Whitley Bridge and Whitwell-on-the-Hill.

But 19 settlements are still regarded as too small to justify the expense of setting up exchanges and BT is exploring other ways of helping them - possibly through satellite connections.

They are Arncliffe, Bilsdale, Blubberhouses, Brandsby, Burnstall, Coverdale, Cracoe, Goathland, Hackness, Horton in Ribblesdale, Jervaulx, Lockton, North Grimston, North Stainley, Nunnington, Ramsgill Dale, Sawley, Wainstones and West Heslerton.

Updated: 10:15 Wednesday, April 28, 2004