SUPER-fast broadband could boost jobs and prosperity in a west Suffolk town which is the first in the county to go live with the service.

Residents in Bury St Edmunds are set to enjoy high-speed internet connections thanks to BT’s roll-out of the fibre-based broadband.

The town is the first in Suffolk to get the new service and among the first in the UK.

Sara Mildmay-White, deputy leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said: “To be among the first in the country is a real coup for Bury, which I know will be tremendously welcomed by businesses and organisations, big and small, as well as individuals.

“This puts Bury firmly on the economic map for businesses looking to start up or expand, with all the knock-on effects that will have on local job creation and prosperity.

“High-speed broadband will give the town such a strong economic base and our thanks go to BT for an investment which makes Bury the top town for business in Suffolk.

“Now we’ll try to go further and work with BT to see if we can expand it into some of the rural areas, where it could also make a massive difference to village economies.”

The new technology promises to bring download speeds of 40 megabytes per second, which could rise to 60 megabytes per second in the future.

Street cabinets have been placed throughout Bury, including the medieval grid, as consultation with councillors and planning chiefs saw the planning process approved.

Dave Hughes, BT East of England regional director, said: “This is an exciting development in the region’s fast-moving broadband story.

“Households and businesses switching to super-fast broadband can experience the internet as they have never experienced it before.

“The advent of BT super-fast fibre-based broadband in Bury St Edmunds will support local jobs and the local economy and is a vital part of BT’s broadband plans for the region.

“As our roll-out of fibre-based broadband gathers pace, many more customers in other parts of the country can look forward to faster speeds in the pipeline.”

Kesgrave, Haverhill and Newmarket have been earmarked as the next towns in Suffolk to get the super-fast broadband as part of BT’s �2.5billion investment in the country.

The new fibre-based technology is said to allow users to enjoy high-definition films as well as playing online games and working on complex graphics.

Mr Hughes said: “St Edmundsbury has been a great partner to work with and Bury St Edmunds is a good example of what can be achieved through good partnership working.

“We are very open to holding discussions with public sector organisations, such as regional development agencies and local councils, to explore ways of bringing super-fast, fibre-based broadband to locations where the economics are more challenging.

For more information, visit www.bt.com/aboutbt