A MASSIVE overhaul of Britain's communications network is in full swing - thanks to a York company and its pioneering new technology.

Adva Optical at Clifton Moor has been selected as one of ten firms to work on a £10 billion project with BT, constructing a new network to cope with changing communication needs. The project is founded on new Ethernet technology, developed by York-based Adva, and is likely to lead to a jobs boost for York.

Reg Armitage, the firm's sales and marketing director, today hailed the announcement, and praised Science City York.

He said: "We are very pleased to have won such a large contract, and it means further expansion of our technical, sales and operation teams." He predicted it could eventually lead to 50 jobs at its York base. As reported in The Press, Adva recently applied for planning permission for new office space at Clifton Moor.

On the detail of the project, Mr Armitage said: "What BT is doing is replacing all its communications equipment nationally, and replacing it with a new next-generation' network. It's a £10 billion investment programme over ten years."

Science City York has been hailed as the major success story in York's economy in recent years.

Mr Armitage said: "You see more hi-tech jobs being created, and we are an example of that. It brings more knowledge-based and IT-based jobs into the area, and there's certainly a spin-off benefit for other businesses.

"As you see older manufacturing jobs change and regrettably disappear, you see them being replaced by hi-tech IT and knowledge-based jobs."

Adva has been in York since 1987, and have enjoyed a 20 per cent growth a year for the past seven years. The firm designs and makes data communications equipment, with its clients, including major banks and finance firms, and broadband providers such as Yahoo!, Virgin Media and Tiscali.