As the BT "Race to Infinity" enters its last month, the top five areas that are currently leading the field have been announced. Over 290,000 people have voted all across the UK with both businesses and consumers keen to see their area upgraded under a scheme that will bring broadband to some areas that previously had een excluded from any investment plans. The top five are currently:
Whilst these five are currently out front, all is still to play for with voting ending on the 31st of December at midnight. The next five are Burley (Wharfedale in Bradford), Sutton on Sea (Lincolnshire), Market Drayton (Shropshire), Malvern (Worcestershire) and Barrow (Furness in Cumbria).
The five winning areas (based on the percentage of premises served, above a threshold of 1,000) will see their exchanges enabled by early 2012 at the latest. BT will also engage with any community where at least 75% of connected properties have voted to get super-fast broadband. One community, Abbey St Bathans in The Scottish Borders, has registered 100% of its residents, however due to the small size of the village this only amounts to 47 votes. Hopefully, BT will find a way to help these people get fast broadband.
For those who have not yet voted, visit www.bt.com/racetoinfinity and select the Vote Now option.
It would be fantastic if they can pop a couple of pizza box MSANs in for Abbey St Bathans :)