£10m broadfund fund - winning bids announced
19 Jun 2014 04:25 PM
Successful bids for
£10m innovation fund to explore ways to take superfast broad to hardest
to reach places announced
Government has today announced
the successful bids for its £10m innovation fund to explore ways to take
superfast broadband to the most remote and hardest to reach places in the UK.
Eight different projects using a range of technologies have been shortlisted to
progress to the feasibility stage, ahead of deployment later this
year.
With the Government’s
current nationwide rollout already reaching more than 20,000 new premises each
week and on track to deliver superfast to 95% of the UK by 2017, Government is
now focusing on exploring ways to reach those premises in the final 5%. The
eight shortlisted pilots will explore how to expand coverage in remote areas,
using fixed wireless and satellite technologies, a social investment financial
model and an operating model which aggregates small rural networks, to ensure
no-one is left behind in the digital slow lane.
Culture Secretary Sajid Javid
said:
Our nationwide rollout is
progressing at a terrific rate and each week superfast speeds are becoming a
reality for tens of thousands of homes and businesses in rural areas across the
UK. We know how important this has become which is why we are investing
£10m in these pilots to explore how we can extend coverage beyond the 95%
of the UK we are on track to deliver by 2017.
Rural Affairs Minister Dan
Rogerson said:
Fast and reliable broadband
revolutionises everything from how we work and how our children learn, to how
we spend our leisure time and engage with public services. It is critical that
we explore how to get superfast broadband out to these hard to reach areas to
allow business to be more productive, innovative and competitive, which is
crucial for building a stronger rural economy and fairer
society.
Chief Executive of Independent
Networks Co-operative Association (INCA) Malcolm Corbett said:
This is a very useful initiative
and we are keen to help local authorities and INCA members learn from the
trials. There is a huge amount of experience, professionalism and
entrepreneurial enthusiasm in the independent sector that can play a big role
in creating Britain’s future digital infrastructure.
Further
information