Residents want meeting with BT over access to broadband

Residents want meeting with BT over access to broadband

13 April 2016

BRITISH Telecom officials are being invited to address residents in the Bishopscourt and Ballyhornan areas on how to access the internet via a new fibre optic connection box the company has provided in the area.

Residents have been campaigning for improved broadband connectivity in the area for a number of years and are delighted a new fibre optic connection is now available. But there is confusion that some homes and buildings which are very close to the connection box are having problems connecting to the world wide web.

Noel and Patricia Curran from the Ballyhornan and District Community Association have this week called on British Telecom to meet with residents to provide them with information on how to secure broadband connections.

“Many people will be aware that there has been a long campaign to improve broadband connection in the Bishopscourt and Ballyhornan areas and we are delighted BT has installed this new box. Some people are having no issues connecting to it but others are,” explained Noel.

“There is a dedicated computer suite in the Ballyhornan Family Centre which hosts classes for people on how to use the internet and while it was previously very difficult to secure a connection, this is no longer a problem.”

Mrs Curran said not everyone can connect to the internet and explained it is her understanding that the new connection box is not for the exclusive use of BT customers.

“People are having problems and it would be good if someone from BT could come to our family centre to meet local people and explain the process of getting logged on. It would also be good to find out what area the new connection box facilitates. 

“It seems strange that some homes close to the box cannot access broadband services, but others slightly further away can. A meeting with BT could help clear up confusion,” she added.