TENS of thousands more homes and businesses in Suffolk are to be brought into the 21st century by the middle of next year, BT announced today.Another 44 telephone exchanges in the county are to be upgraded with broadband technology, enabling 99.

TENS of thousands more homes and businesses in Suffolk are to be brought into the 21st century by the middle of next year, BT announced today.

Another 44 telephone exchanges in the county are to be upgraded with broadband technology, enabling 99.8 percent of properties in the county to get the service.

At present 75 pc of properties in Suffolk can receive BT broadband, which enables people to have much quicker internet access.

A total of 41,500 further households will have broadband access – including properties served by exchanges at Nacton, Kirton, Copdock, Hintlesham, Mendlesham, Nayland, Boxford, Shotley, Orford, Woolverstone, and Holbrook.

Work to upgrade the exchanges will start in October and should be completed by July next year.

That will leave just the three smallest exchanges in Suffolk, at Linstead, Burnt Fen, and Higham near Hadleigh without a date to get the new technology.

nFor full details on when your exchange will be switched on visit www.bt.com/broadband