A MULTI-MILLION- pound partnership be-tween Caerphilly council, BT and the Welsh Development Agency is bringing high-speed broadband technology to the area and driving down the cost to small businesses.

Under the initiative BT will install ADSL (asymmetric digital subscriber line) technology in Black-wood, Hengoed, Newbridge and Bargoed exchanges to go live on April 30.

At this point, funding from the Corus regenerat-ion partnership will enable the council to make broadband services available to over 75 per cent of the county's businesses at a subsidised rate.

That will include those in Caerphilly itself, which already has a broadband-enabled exchange.

Councillor Rob Gough, Caerphilly's cabinet member for economic development, said: "The introduction of broadband technology in the borough will provide a huge boost to the local economy and help revolutionise Internet access for businesses and domestic users.

"Caerphilly council has always prided itself on leading the way and we are delighted to be working closely with BT and the WDA on this project.

"Our aim is to make this area one of the most connected areas of the UK, allowing businesses to take advantage of the benefits of broadband technology and compete on a worldwide stage."

BT Retail's chief executive officer Pierre Danon said his company was already in talks with other local authority partners, which could result in the Caerphilly model being replicated in other parts of Wales and the UK.

"Caerphilly is the first project aimed at extending our partnerships programme following the success of the Cornwall Actnow initiative," he said.

"We applaud Caerphilly council's commitment to putting broadband at the heart of its economic strategy."