Wiltshire part of package to receive 50 million funding for next wave of rural broadband

Homes and businesses across Wiltshire, Norfolk and Devon & Somerset will have access to superfast broadband connections as the Government's drive to connect rural areas moves into the next phase. Each area will receive a multi-million pound package, part of the Government's £530m fund earmarked to support the roll-out of superfast broadband to areas that the market alone will not reach. The Government is committed to providing the best superfast broadband in Europe by 2015.

Commenting Claire Perry MP said:

"It is vital that rural communities and businesses have access to effective and affordable broadband if the digital divide is not to grow even wider and rural economies are going to grow and prosper. Along with many others locally I have been lobbying hard for Wiltshire to be among the first in the queue for more funding. Today I am delighted to announce that our efforts have paid off and Wiltshire will be among the areas receiving the next £50 million allocated for rural broadband. This will open up new ways of conducting business and allow more people will be able to work remotely from rural locations. We are moving towards having a living and working countryside"

Today's announcement adds three new areas to the existing superfast broadband pilots currently being set up in North Yorkshire, the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, Cumbria and the Herefordshire borders. Local authorities and their delivery partners were invited to bid for a slice of the £530m funding allocated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in October's Comprehensive Spending Review.

A total of 18 bids were received and it is anticipated that all will receive funding during the current Parliament as their proposals evolve.

The three successful areas, which will be allocated a share of £50m funding, will also receive financial support from their local authorities and private investors.

The next steps are for each local authority to tender for contractors to carry out the work. Work will begin on upgrading the broadband infrastructure in the three areas following this procurement process and it is hoped that suppliers will start rolling out upgraded infrastructure within a year. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) will then use these networks to offer affordable services to homes and businesses.

It is anticipated that a mix of technologies will be used including mobile, satellite and fibre connections to hubs in the heart of communities. Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) will be working with all the authorities that submitted local broadband plans over the coming weeks with a view to supporting all local broadband plans at the earliest opportunity.

Back to all posts