PEOPLE living in towns and villages across north Suffolk are united in a bid to bring the latest hi-tech internet access to the region.Campaigns to have high-speed broadband connections introduced are active in many locations including Halesworth, Southwold, Blythburgh and Ilketshall.

PEOPLE living in towns and villages across north Suffolk are united in a bid to bring the latest hi-tech internet access to the region.

Campaigns to have high-speed broadband connections introduced are active in many locations including Halesworth, Southwold, Blythburgh and Ilketshall.

The campaign in Southwold is being co-ordinated by mother-of two- Rosie Price, a self-employed telecommunications distributor from Reydon.

A public meeting was held at the Randolph Hotel, Reydon, last nightto publicise the campaign.

BT have set a “trigger” target of 500 people interested in receiving broadband in the Southwold area before the company will update the exchange.

“The Southwold exchange also serves people living in Reydon and Walberswick so a lot of people will benefit if broadband is introduced,” said Ms Price.

The campaign is being supported by Adnams Brewery and the Southwold and District Chamber of Commerce.

Southwold Town Council has backed the campaign and councillors this week agreed to donate £50 to help with the administration costs involved with publicising the benefits of broadband to people living in the area.

“Getting broadband will have a lot of advantages for businesses in the area but people at home will also benefit from a high-speed connection and being able to use their telephone at the same time as an internet connection,” said Ms Price.

So far 172 people in the Southwold area have registered their interest in receiving broadband with BT.

“The figure is rising all the time and has gone up considerably since the campaign started,” said Ms Price.

It is a similar story in Halesworth where again the trigger level for BT to update the exchange is 500.

The campaign is being headed by the town's business connections group and so far 211 people in the area have registered their interest.

It is not only the towns where broadband is being sought as people living in villages are also eager to have an improved connection to the internet.

In Ilketshall St Andrew, near Halesworth, the campaign is being led by 19-year-old college student Kevin Markwell.

Mr Markwell is hoping to encourage enough people to register their interest so that the exchange serving Ilketshall St Andrew, Ilketshall St Lawrence and Ilketshall St Margaret.

“A faster internet connection will not only benefit people who work from home but will also make a big difference to college and high school students who have to research various projects,” said Mr Markwell.

The trigger level for Ilketshall is 100 and so far 43 people have registered their interest.

“I am sure that the trigger target is achievable and registering an interest does not commit anyone to receiving the new service,” said Mr Markwell.

Anyone wanting more information about broadband can visit the BT website at www.bt.co.uk and follow the broadband links.