A NEW report has revealed that BT’s investment in super-fast broadband in Wiltshire is expected to create thousands of new jobs in the next 15 years.

The report, by Regeneris Consulting, predicts the high-speed technology is capable of contributing hundreds of millions pounds to the local economy.

It will allow existing firms to operate more efficiently and to develop new products and services and make it easier for new businesses to get started through increasing use of innovations, such as ‘cloud computing’.

The report predicts that over the next 15 years BT’s super-fast broadband investment could give the economy of a typical town like Swindon a £143 million* boost , create 225 new jobs and 140 new start-up businesses.

There is also expected to be a big surge in flexible and home working.

The report says that the high-speed technology could result in about 1,000 more homeworkers in a typical town and around 1,500 in a city.

BT’s £2.5 billion roll-out of super-fast broadband across the UK has already made the technology available to nearly 700,000 South West homes and businesses – and this figure is expected to reach nearly 1.25 million mark by Spring next year.

The Regeneris report also examines the wider impact of BT in Wiltshire through direct employment, expenditure with contractors and suppliers and the spending of its employees.

The overall beneficial financial impact of BT activities in Wiltshire, including the roll-out of super-fast broadband, is expressed as a “Gross Value Added” (GVA)contribution with last year’s BT GVA amounting to £142 million.

Jon Reynolds, BT’s regional director for the South West, said: “This report demonstrates the great benefits that BT’s activities, including its major investment in super-fast broadband, are delivering for Bristol and will continue to deliver in the years to come.

“BT is playing a vital role in the prosperity and well-being of the county from the massive economic boost provided by our activities to the 9,000 hours of volunteering activity carried out by BT’s people right across the South West.

“BT’s plans to roll-out next generation broadband across the South West are already well underway.

"But we want to go further and would very much welcome the opportunity to have an even bigger impact on the regional economy by working with the public sector to make the high-speed technology available in more challenging areas.

“It is vital that we continue to grow and help our customers, stakeholders and employees to thrive as we work together to create a more prosperous South West.”