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Regeneris says broadband could boost Yorkshire and Humber economy
A new report has claimed super-fast broadband access will offer a huge boost to the economy in Yorkshire and the Humber in the next 15 years.
The study, conducted by Regeneris Consulting, predicted that the rollout of super-fast broadband by BT could boost the economy of a typical town by £143 million, while cities are expected to benefit to the tune of £296 million.
Over the past year, the telecoms giant has been responsible for the creation of more than 7,000 jobs in Yorkshire and the Humber, and has spent more than £291 million with suppliers in the region, the report claimed.
Just this month, the company announced it is creating 150 permanent, full-time engineering positions to support its UK-wide super-fast broadband deployment, with the recruits set to take up their positions in May.
Next-generation broadband connectivity allows firms to operate more efficiently, Regeneris explained, while other benefits include enabling businesses to make use of technological innovations such as cloud computing.
It is also thought that fibre optic broadband will lead to a surge in remote working, with the technology believed to result in about 1,000 more people working from home in the average UK town and around 1,500 more in the typical city.
More than seven million homes and businesses across the country already have access to BT's super-fast broadband service, with the company planning to reach ten million properties by the end of the year.
John Anderson, regional director for Yorkshire and the Humber at BT, said: "This report demonstrates the great benefits that BT's activities, including its major investment in super-fast broadband, are delivering for Yorkshire and the Humber.
"BT is playing a vital role in the prosperity and wellbeing of the region, from the massive economic boost provided by our activities to the 4,000 hours of volunteering activity carried out by BT's people right across the region."