Openreach, the BT business which manages phone and internet connections, has recruited more than 100 new engineers, including 17 from Swindon, in the south west in preparation for a major upgrade of the local BT network.

More than £90 million is planned to be invested across the region in the next 12 months to further improve the network's capacity and resilience.

The programme includes the installation of thousands of miles of new optical fibre and copper cabling.

Bob Challacombe, Openreach director, said: "We are committed to ensuring the region has a first-class communications network fully capable of meeting the growing demands of the 21st century. This major investment in materials and new engineers will assist us in continuing to provide service excellence for our customers.

"Communications technology is developing rapidly as demonstrated by the fact that the south west now has more than three quarters of a million homes and businesses using the network to access high-speed broadband services."

Openreach is the multi-billion pound business responsible for the local BTnetwork.

It employs the men and women who install, repair and upgrade lines and maintain the green cabinets at the side the road, ensuring reliable local access to the telephony and internet services offered by communications providers.

Openreach is responsible for the nationwide local BT network which connects homes and businesses across Britain to communications providers' networks. Openreach provides communications providers with services and products associated with that network.