Connecting Shropshire secures additional funding for fibre broadband roll-out
A further £1,454,257 has been awarded to Connecting Shropshire by the government to provide over 1,000 additional rural premises with access to faster fibre broadband.
This extra coverage will be provided under an extension to the current Connecting Shropshire programme being rolled-out by BT in partnership with Shropshire Council and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK). Coverage details will be confirmed once technical surveys of the areas have been completed.
Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council cabinet member for broadband, said:
“The Connecting Shropshire programme team have worked extremely hard to bring in this additional funding, which backs up our pledge as a Council to do all we can to secure additional funding to give access to fibre based broadband to as many homes and businesses in the Council area as possible.”
Communications Minister, Ed Vaizey, said:
“This additional funding is excellent news for Shropshire and the extra £1,454,257 will take superfast broadband to an extra 1,000 premises that would otherwise have had to wait. The UK already does more business online than any other European country and widespread access to superfast speeds will provide a welcome boost to Shropshire’s economy.”
Rural Affairs Minister, Dan Rogerson, said:
“Fast and reliable broadband coverage is crucial to building stronger rural economies and enabling farmers and all rural businesses to grow and thrive. This extra funding will allow rural businesses to benefit and will help close the rural and urban divide in broadband coverage.”
Further information
Contact
Callum McLagan at the Shropshire Council press office on 01743 255939 or email callum.mclagan@shropshire.gov.uk (All Shropshire Council news stories can be read at http://shropshire.gov.uk/news/)
Connecting Shropshire programme website: www.connectingshropshire.co.uk/
About Connecting Shropshire
Connecting Shropshire is the name given to the programme bringing fibre based broadband to areas where it isn’t economically viable for commercial companies to provide it. It is a partnership between Shropshire Council, BT and Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) that will enable more than 62,000 homes and businesses in Shropshire (excluding Telford and Wrekin) to access faster broadband by the end of Spring 2016.
When added to BT’s commercial roll-out, 93 per cent of premises in the Shropshire Council area will have access to fibre based broadband by the end of Spring 2016. All premises in the programme area will be provided with access to a basic level of broadband (a minimum of 2mbps).
About Superfast Britain
Superfast Britain is a Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK. Run by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this investment helps businesses to grow, creates jobs and will make Britain more competitive in the global race. The portfolio is comprised of three elements:
- £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95 per cent of the UK by 2017
- £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities
- £150m to improve quality and coverage of mobile phone and basic data network services
Administered on behalf of Government by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), Superfast Britain is transforming Britain by promoting growth, enabling skills and learning, and improving quality of life. For further information: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk
