Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) is set to work with BT on a super-fast broadband pilot scheme in the rural market town of Wallingford as part of the government's Broadband Delivery UK initiative.

The local authority will invest £3.6 million to extend high-speed broadband coverage across the county, matching the amount put forward by the government, while the county council will shell out an additional £350,000 on the project from this April.

As part of OCC's strategy to improve the county's broadband connectivity, the pilot project will be held in Wallingford, with deputy leader David Robertson explaining the town was chosen following talks with Ewelme Parish Council and RAF Benson, both of which are keen to take advantage of faster internet access.

The scheme will involve the upgrading of Wallingford's telephone exchange, bringing next-generation broadband access to 6,775 homes and 460 businesses from June.

"This is a very important project and could bring economic benefits to businesses in a town like Wallingford," Mr Robertson was quoted by the Oxford Mail as saying.

Although the council chief insisted he is currently unable to confirm which part of Oxfordshire will be next in line to benefit, he stressed that OCC is working hard on its broadband strategy and will submit its proposals to the government by April.

Dan Beacham, deputy manager of KP Stationers in Wallingford, is among the local business leaders to welcome the rollout of super-fast broadband in the market town.

"In the past, the internet was a luxury but nowadays it's just as important as using the phone," he explained.

Last September, BT announced its super-fast broadband footprint in Oxfordshire increased with the launch of its fibre optic-based service in Oxford, Banbury, Headington and Summertown.

John Weaver, regional director for BT in the south-east, commented: "Fast and reliable internet connections are an essential part of our national infrastructure, whether we want them for entertainment at home, education online, boosting our businesses or delivering essential public services."

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