Broadband coming to port
HUNDREDS of offices at Felixstowe port will be able to switch to the benefits of broadband this summer, thanks to the campaigning work of one of the town's businessmen.
HUNDREDS of offices at Felixstowe port will be able to switch to the benefits of broadband this summer, thanks to the campaigning work of one of the town's businessmen.
Tim Nice, of Portland Direct Computer Solutions, launched a campaign to get broadband for the dock area of Felixstowe, back in July.
Despite being Britain's number one container port, telecommunications companies had failed to provide it with a broadband link.
But now, more than 100 companies have joined forces to show their interest, and BT have announced that, on June 2, the port will be connected.
Mr Nice, a member of the Felixstowe port users association, said: "This is very good news for all the companies down at the docks. Some of them will end up saving a lot of money.
"Although the date given by BT for activation is later than originally expected, at least we now have a firm date we can plan towards.
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"Local companies on the port exchange now have the assurance that the largest container port in the UK will finally move into the Broadband era."
Felixstowe is divided in to two telephone exchange areas: the town exchange and the port exchange. The town one already has a broadband connection, but the dock one, which serves 336 businesses and 107 households has had to wait.
A BT spokesman said: "BT will build broadband exchanges where there is sufficient demand to justify the investment. With this in mind we have analysed carefully the number of people we need to sign up for broadband at each exchange."
The trigger level for the port exchange was 100. The 100th company registered their interest in mid-February.
It takes approximately ten weeks from the trigger level being reached to get broadband up and running.
