More than 20,000 homes and businesses in the district are poised to benefit from super-fast broadband.

Telephone exchanges in Teignmouth and Newton Abbot are among the latest to be included in BT's £2.5 billion nationwide roll-out of fibre broadband.

The upgrades are due early next year.

Download speeds of up to 80Mbps should be generally available, twice the current rate.

Some premises will get as much as 300Mbps.

Jon Reynolds, BT's south west regional director, said: 'Super-fast broadband will be welcomed by families throughout the area because it will help improve their quality of life and leisure and open new doors through online learning and fast access to information and services.

'It's also going to provide a huge fillip for businesses and the region's economy.

'At a stroke, small and medium sized firms will have access to big business speeds at much lower costs allowing them to find new markets, boost their competitiveness and create new jobs.'

The firm has said delivering the technology to rural areas will require 'a partnership approach' with the public sector.

A Teignmouth computer expert predicts the new service will be 'phenomenal' for businesses and residents.

Kevin Peters, of Station-X New Media Designers, says it will provide a further layer of infrastructure into Teignmouth.

He said:?'we will have the tools to compete with those in cities where this type of technology had traditionally been based.

'Home users will have the choice of better services too, with on demand TV, faster gaming, and almost instant download of music.

'Teignmouth will have a genuine advantage, and I hope BT keeps the costs reasonable,

'We could attract new businesses, because it will open up endless possibilities, including working from home and being able to transfer huge amounts of data quickly.'

Mr Peters praised town clerk Dave Tickell for working behind the scenes for a long time to have Teignmouth included in the upgrade programme.