MORE THAN 75,000 homes and businesses in York are now able to access high-speed fibre broadband as part of a £2.5 billion roll-out.

The milestone for the city was passed as the latest fibre street cabinet, outside the National Railway Museum, was switched on, becoming the most recent to be upgraded under BT’s commercial scheme.

Hugh Bayley, York Central MP, joined senior members of BT’s Yorkshire and Humber board and the leader of City of York Council at the cabinet in Leeman Road, to find out more about how the technology works.

He said: “Broadband speed is a subject close to the heart of many of my constituents, so it’s been fascinating to see today the progress that is being made and just how these powerful connections are carried across York.”

Cllr James Alexander added: “Super-fast fibre broadband offers huge benefits which will undoubtedly help York’s economy to flourish.”

The 75,000 total includes nearly 65,000 homes and business now able to benefit as part of BT’s commercial roll-out and more than 10,000 premises covered by the Superfast North Yorkshire programme.

Openreach engineers have laid more than 140,000 kilometres of fibre cable.