Superfast broadband offered in Neath Port Talbot

More than 17,500 homes and businesses are being given the opportunity to connect to superfast broadband across Neath Port Talbot.

It is part of a £2.5bn roll-out by BT which also saw the nearby areas of Briton Ferry, Gorseinon, Mumbles, Neath, Ravenhill and Sketty connected.

It is in addition to the Welsh government's Superfast Cymru project.

The multimillion pound project aims to connect fibre broadband to 96% of homes and businesses by 2016.

Neath Port Talbot council leader Ali Thomas said: "The internet is an integral part of daily life for local residents, both at home and at work, offering the opportunity to connect to this fast and resilient new technology.

"Fibre broadband can also bring new opportunities and a competitive edge to our businesses, so this is very welcome news for the town."

Ann Beynon, BT director for Wales, said: "The arrival of fibre in Port Talbot can really help local firms in these economically challenging times, opening up new ways of working and speeding up vital operations, such as file and data transfers, conferencing and computer back-up, all of which may also help cut costs."