TEESSIDE’S best zones for broadband connection have been listed by communications experts.
The list is based on access to broadband exchanges and also highlights the eight areas to benefit from upgrades later this year.
“The closer a business is to an area exchange, the better the chance of achieving a high speed. Each exchange is capable of giving 24 megabits per second broadband, but the further a business is from the exchange, the more this speed will drop off,” said Mike Odysseas, MD of Stockton-based Odyssey Systems.
“ If you can’t see the exchange, there is a good chance you won’t get close to that optimum speed and while many of these exchanges serve hundreds of business premises, only those closest will receive full benefits.”
The full list, in order of the number of business premises supplied by each, is: Duke Street, Darlington (2092); Marton Road/Wellesley Road, Middlesbrough (2033); Dovecot Street, Stockton (2016); Regent Street, Redcar (900); Church Lane/Eston Road, Eston Grange (657); Norton Road, Norton (512); Chipchase Road, Linthorpe (480); North Road, Stokesley (406); Croft Road, Eaglescliffe (385); Upper Garth Gardens, Guisborough (370); Belasis Avenue/Port Clarence Road, Haverton Hill (288); Gainsbrough Road, Marton (256); Durham Road, Sedgefield (200); Strait Lane (nr The Sporting Lodge), Stainton (199); A173 Linden Avenue, Great Ayton (131); Limbrick Avenue, Hartburn (129); Enterpen, Hutton Rudby (93); Yarm Road, Middleton St George (87); Morrison Street, Stillington (78); West Hartlepool Road, Wolviston (69); Dalton Back Lane, Greatham (39); Sanderson Road, Hurworth (38); A167 Great Smeaton Village, Great Smeaton (33); A178 Billingham Fire Station, Seal Sands (8).
The eight exchanges to benefit from September are: Eaglescliffe, Guisborough, Hartburn, Hartlepool, Ingleby Barwick, Linthorpe and Marton. Sedgefield (March 2012).
Mike continued: “Broadband speed is becoming an increasing consideration for firms when making the decision on where to position their operations. This is equally the case with people choosing where to live.”
Communications watchdog OFCOM says that while broadband speeds are improving, average download speeds remain less than half of “up to” speeds advertised by some Internet Service Providers.