THOUSANDS of homes and businesses across North Yorkshire are about to benefit from broadband thanks to a newly formed partnership.

Yorkshire Forward, BT and the region's Business Links have joined forces to improve awareness of the benefits of broadband, information and communications technology (ICT) and e-commerce.

As part of the initiative, BT will make broadband available from exchanges serving more than 17,000 homes and 1,500 businesses in the county.

By the end of November, almost 90 per cent of households across Yorkshire will be connected to a broadband enabled exchange - one of the highest levels of broadband penetration outside Britain's big cities.

The broadband drive aims to encourage businesses and households to take advantage of the benefits that can be gained from high-speed Internet access.

BT's role will be to provide Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines to five of its telephone exchanges in North Yorkshire, with exchanges in Bedale and Catterick due to be enabled on November 19.

Business Link York and North Yorkshire will work with businesses to help them realise the potential of broadband Internet access, which is at least ten times faster than a traditional modem.

Advantages include increased productivity and cost savings.

Susan Johnson, of Yorkshire Forward, said: "Broadband is hugely effective in expanding communications between businesses, their suppliers and customers, while also providing high speed access to information on the World Wide Web.

"Yorkshire Forward is working with its partners to ensure that this new technology is brought to all parts of the region where there is proven demand."

One local company that has noticed benefits from using a high speed Internet connection is Ample Bosoms, which sells bras via a website to women who need larger sizes.

Founder Sally Robinson, of Helmsley, recently switched to broadband and said her business now runs more efficiently.

She said: "It allows us to update prices, offers and products in an online catalogue easily and quickly."