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BT BACKS GREATER MERSEYSIDE BROADBAND DRIVE
BT THIS week announced that seven more Greater Merseyside communities will soon have access to high speed broadband communications, making it one of only a few regions in the UK to have 100 per cent broadband coverage.
BT exchanges at Eastham, Rainford, Hale, Billinge, Hightown, Manor Park and Moore are being upgraded in support of the £3.9 million investment in Greater Merseyside broadband partnership projects which has been confirmed recently by the Northwest Development Agency.
The NWDA funding is designed to provide specialist broadband advice for up to 1,200 businesses, as well as helping to establish a local centre of excellence for businesses to develop best practice in teleworking.
To enable a fully inclusive approach across the whole of Greater Merseyside, BT declared it will accelerate its exchange upgrade programme to make broadband available in these areas in March next year – up to six months or more early.
The seven exchanges, serving 19,000 households and businesses, will ‘go live’ with broadband on Wednesday, March 10, 2004. Around 1,200 BT customers in the seven communities have registered an interest in ordering broadband.
At the same time, BT laid plans to complete the roll-out of high speed broadband in the UK by: upgrading every exchange where there is sufficient demand; seeking more public sector support to stimulate awareness and demand; and encouraging external involvement to explore other technologies where demand is unlikely to justify BT’s exchange investment alone.
BT’s national broadband strategy supports the Government’s European Union policy to modernise society through the widest possible access to 21st century communications.
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BUDDING ARTISTS MARC AND CHELSEA WIN NATIONAL COMPETITION
CHRISTMAS ranks as the most dangerous time of year for homeowners, according to figures from Lloyds TSB Insurance. The research shows that home insurance claims double in the festive season, reflecting a surge in burglaries and domestic disasters caused by new presents, accident prone relatives and kitchen crises. However, only half the population is insured against any of these risks.
The findings show that home insurance claims catapulted beyond the 20,000 mark in December last year from a low of 10,000 in October and fell quickly in the following months. Home burglaries were a common theme around Christmas and the New Year, with thefts of Christmas presents a regular occurrence. Other claims ranged from cookers exploding on Christmas day to alcohol staining the furniture.
Phil Loney from Lloyds TSB Insurance, said:- "The figures speak for themselves. Christmas can spell disaster for anyone inviting friends or family over, opening a new present or even preparing the meal.
It is more important than ever at this time of year to have insurance covering these possibilities, guarding against both the trivial accidents and the more serious thefts. Lloyds TSB's home insurance2 offers extended cover for homes at Christmas, but the frightening reality is that half the population has no cover at all, meaning they are totally exposed to potential risks of
Christmas". 
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