Super-fast broadband is coming to 28,000 properties in Norwich, BT has announced.

It is the latest area to benefit from a �2.5 billion programme to bring high-speed, fibre optic technology to millions of properties across the country.

BT is set to upgrade the Norwich exchange with work expected to be completed in 2012.

It will mean homes and businesses will have access to speeds of up to 40Mpbs from next year – twice the current speed available.

The announcement comes just three weeks after the government awarded a �15m grant to Norfolk to help the county council bring every person in the county struggling with super-slow internet connections up to speed.

BT said its latest pledge to upgrade the Norwich exchange would take the number of Norfolk homes and businesses with access to its super-fast network to 55,000.

Dave Hughes, regional director, said: 'It's good news that more homes and businesses in Norfolk are joining the world's fastest-growing fibre optic network.

'This latest BT investment is another important step forward in the development of highly sophisticated communications in our region.'

The city's exchange was chosen based on a number of factors, including the expected take-up, levels of support and interest from the local area and the predicted performance of the technology.

BT will initially use 'fibre to the cabinet' (FTTC) technology which currently produces speeds of up to 40Mpbs, depending on how close a property is to the exchange, but that could be further upgraded to 'fibre to the premises' (FTTP) technology – with speeds of up to 100Mbps – at a later date.

Last night, Norwich South MP Simon Wright welcomed the news.

He said: 'Reliable and fast internet access is increasingly important for businesses and households.

'Increasingly, how we access services and entertainment will rely on access to fast broadband connections, and after years of frustration we are finally seeing real progress in Norfolk.'

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