Faster broadband in a month - BT

COMPANIES hampered by slow broadband speeds at Oldham’s Salmon Fields business village should have faster services by the end of May, British Telecom has promised.

Improvements to the telecoms network in Shaw Road should benefit offices at the nearby business park, where at least one company, VSM Healthcare, has said it will move out due to the problem.

Companies at the business village, built in 2006, have been calling for urgent action to connect them to superfast broadband as they said slow broadband was hitting efficiency and deterring new businesses from moving there.

Following BT’s latest announcement, VSM bosses say they will watch the situation closely but keep their options open.

A BT spokesman said: “We have finished putting in a fibre broadband street cabinet by Salmon Fields. We will now be doing the ducting and cabling to connect the cabinet to the exchange.

“The business park will have high speed broadband by the end of May, as long as there are no unforeseen difficulties.”

Luke Vernon of VSM said: “The broadband speed remains slow but we will monitor the situation closely. Moving all our operations to Manchester remains an option — or perhaps moving some of our activities in Manchester. Whatever we choose, there needs to be a vast improvement for supporting businesses in Oldham.”