FIVE towns and cities across the North-East have been promised access to faster, high-capacity Internet services by November 2004.

BT has revealed its roll-out timetable, which will double the availability of symmetric broadband products (SDSL) across the UK, which includes bringing the technology to Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Stockton, Sunderland and Durham.

Leading independent North East Business Internet Service Provider, Onyx Internet, has welcomed the arrival of this next generation broadband technology to the region.

The service will signify an increase in Internet and ecommerce opportunities for more than 10,000 businesses across the region.

It is as a result of Onyx Internet's campaign to report a genuine demand for SDSL in the area.

Symmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (SDSL) is the latest in broadband technology.

SDSL uses a standard phone line to carry high-speed digital information with equal bandwidth flowing in both directions, and is more advanced than standard ADSL broadband.