Internet access is soon to get faster (From Penarth Times)

Internet access is soon to get faster

PENARTH and Dinas Powys are set to get a faster service for internet users - thanks to the Times.

Only eight more people are needed in Penarth for the town to qualify for the broadband service for internet users. Dinas has hit its target.

Broadband will allow much faster responses when people are using the internet.

Apart from reducing frustration levels for home users, broadband should be a major boost for local schools and small businesses.

The campaign to get broadband installed for the area has been helped by the fact that BT have decreased the amount of people needed to register - the trigger level.

Penarth has a trigger level of 300 now and 292 people have registered their interest.

Director of BT Wales, Yvonne Thomas said: "As a user myself I know broadband will help greatly in Penarth especially in schools."

Dinas Powys now has 254 people registered and as the trigger level has dropped from 300 to 250 they should now move on to the next step.

Cathy Bowles of Meredale, Dinas Powys, said: "That is wonderful news.

I remember only three months ago there were 70 people who had shown their interest.

At that time I decided to write to the Penarth Times to try to rally support for broadband."

She added: "The article and letter seem to have done the job.

I think people were unsure whether they could register an interest if their provider was not BT."

But not everyone is satisfied with the way BT have handled the issue.

Eileen Townsend Jones, of Park Road, Penarth said: "I want broadband and have been following the trigger levels for Penarth for months.

On the broadband website there is a flyer which is there to be downloaded.

"However I could not use the flyer to give out to my friends because my slower internet connection would not allow me."

A spokesman for BT said: "The trigger levels have been lowered because we have learnt how to install new exchanges more easily.

Therefore we can decrease the amount of people needed to register their interest."