Faster surfing may be on the way (From Penarth Times)

Faster surfing may be on the way

PENARTH residents are champing at the bit to get on to the broadband information super highway.

Local web users are still trying to get support from other residents to get broadband. BT will only provide it if there are 400 people in the area who are interested.

A web designer from Dingle Road, Penarth, Tim Dawes, said: "I think Penarth will benefit from having access to a quicker service because it makes using the internet much easier and quicker.

"The difference between broadband and the usual service is vast.

"If broadband was a motorway, then other internet services would be small dual carriageways."

He added that the internet was trying to cope with the same amount of traffic as a motorway without the capacity to deal with it.

Tim shops on-line and gets his three-weekly shop from Tesco's by ordering on-line and having the goods delivered.

Dial-up internet is less convenient and slower to use than broadband for buying goods. So far, 202 people locally have registered their interest.

A BT spokesman, Chris Orum, said: "The trigger level is quite good for the area.

"If the number of people grows to 75% of the 400 required and they have confirmed that they want to order the connection, then the system can go ahead."

He added that there were campaigns all over the country to make web users aware of broadband.

"There is 66% of the UK who have the quicker connection, but Wales only has a coverage of 33%.

"So if you want get the service, register an interest with your service provider and Penarth will be on its way to a quicker system."