HUNDREDS of offices at Felixstowe port could benefit from a new, high-speed internet connection, thanks to the campaigning work of one of the town's businessmen.

HUNDREDS of offices at Felixstowe port could benefit from a new, high-speed internet connection, thanks to the campaigning work of one of the town's businessmen.

Despite Felixstowe being Britain's number one container port, telecommunications companies have, so far, failed to provide it with a broadband connection.

But now, Tim Nice, computer solutions manager at Portland Direct Computer Solutions, has launched a campaign to get the docks on broadband.

Mr Nice, a member of the Felixstowe port users association, launched the campaign in July.

He said: "Many of the association's members had been complaining they couldn't get broadband on the docks, so we decided to see if we could get the ball rolling and do something about it.

"It seems ludicrous that the number one container port in the UK is still having to use such an old-fashioned connection."

Felixstowe is divided into two telephone exchange areas – the town exchange and the dock exchange. The town exchange already has a broadband connection. But the dock exchange, which serves 336 businesses and 107 households, has no broadband capacity.

Chairman of the Felixstowe port users association Simon Fraser said: "I think it's absurd that Britain's busiest container port is deprived of this modern facility.

"It will help businesses to effectively link offices all over the world and it will also help bring costs down for everyone."

BT require at least 100 companies to register their interest in getting broadband before anything can be done. In just five months 84 companies have expressed an interest. A further 16 companies are needed before the broadband exchange is enabled.

A BT spokesman said: "BT will build broadband in 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 have signed up for broadband at each exchange."

Once Felixstowe's trigger level of 100 has been reached the exchange should be ready to offer broadband services within approximately ten weeks.

If you are a Felixstowe business owner and would like to register your interest call Mr Nice on 01394 282198.