BT rolls out fibre broadband in Newport and Caerleon

BT has rolled out high-speed fibre optic broadband across the city of Newport in south Wales.

Engineers from the telecoms giant are deploying the technology to more than 20,000 homes and businesses in Newport and Caerleon, after the service went live in the Bettws and Malpas areas earlier this year.

As a result of this latest development, the number of Welsh properties with fibre broadband access has risen to 330,000, while a further 245,000 are set to be upgraded over the coming months.

Bob Bright, leader of Newport City Council, said the news is particularly welcome given the challenging economic climate.

"High-speed fibre broadband will create new opportunities for everyone in the city, giving our businesses a competitive edge as well as opening new doors for people of every age and background," he added.

This latest rollout comes in addition to the announcement in July that BT will work with the Welsh government to deploy super-fast broadband to 96 per cent of properties across the country, using a mix of public and private funding.