NEW jobs and businesses could be created in Runcorn as the town benefits from a £2.5 million high-speed fibre broadband upgrade.

BT has announced a further major investment in Cheshire, pledging to roll out the fastest network to more than 20,500 homes and businesses.

This latest investment means that 11,700 homes, shops and companies across Runcorn will be upgraded in 2013.

Mike Blackburn, BT’s regional director for the north west, said: “Fibre broadband opens up a whole new, high speed world. This latest major investment will help Cheshire to overcome the current economic challenges and take full advantage of the upturn when it comes.

“Digital technology is fundamental to how we live and work and an increasingly connected world, high-speed communicatioins will become even more essential in the years ahead.

“Research suggests fibre broadband could give a £143 million boost to a typical town’s economy and create 140 new businesses within 10 years.”

Internet users with a fibre broadband connection can do more online, all at the same time.

A family can download a movie, watch a TV replay service, surf the net and play games online simultaneously.

A whole album can be downloaded in less than 30 seconds, and a feature length HD movie in less than 10 minutes, whilst high resolution photos can be uploaded to Facebook in seconds.

The upload speeds are the fastest widely available to consumers in the UK, with large video and data files being sent almost instantly and hi-resolution photos posted online in seconds.

High quality voice and vidio calls mean businesses can keep in touch with customers, saving money on travel.