AROUND 2,200 businesses and homes now have access to faster internet connections as a result of a £27million superfast broadband roll-out in Derbyshire.
The first phase of the Digital Derbyshire project has been completed, with Ilkeston, Alfreton, Markham Vale, Bolsover, Tibshelf and Holmewood benefiting.
Next to benefit will be businesses and homes in Ambergate, Repton, Darley Dale and Bakewell, when cabinets are switched on over the next two months.
The roll-out is a partnership between Derbyshire County Council, BT and the Government.
The project will see more than 95% of Derbyshire's businesses and residents have access to fibre broadband by the end of 2016.
Councillor Joan Dixon, cabinet member for jobs, economy and transport, said: "We're pressing ahead with our three-year project to bring faster broadband speeds to Derbyshire.
"This investment will open up endless business and leisure opportunities and will help to boost our rural areas, support economic growth and allow local communities to continue to thrive.
"Whether it's for business, shopping, education or socialising, the internet plays such a huge part of daily life for many of us and that will only grow in the future.
"That's why we've been driving this project forward to boost the local economy by closing the digital divide which has left many areas of Derbyshire behind when commercial operators rolled out broadband services."
Rob Shakespeare, BT's contract manager for Digital Derbyshire, said: "We're delighted to reach this milestone.
"The first phase of the project has been very successful and we're building on this momentum as we continue will the roll-out at pace."
BT is contributing £12.87m to the project while the county council is contributing £4.9m. A further £7.4m is coming from the Government's Broadband Delivery UK funds, as well as £2.5m from the European Regional Development Fund.
