More than £289m in contracts signed to connect remote locations including in the Dee Valley, Isle of Anglesey and Shropshire Hills
More than 85% of the country can now access gigabit connections and the government is on course to meet its target of full gigabit coverage by 2030.
Twr Mawr Lighthouse in Anglesey, photo by Sam Andrews
Yet, as we’ve reported before, the more that gigabit-speed internet is rolled out across the UK, the harder it becomes to close the remaining gap – because what remains are the most remote, hard to reach locations. Despite this challenge, the government’s Project Gigabit is committed to ensuring that everyone benefits from high-speed internet and is continuing to invest in connectivity programmes.
This includes providing more than £289m for four new contracts agreed between the government and Openreach to provide the Dee Valley, Isle of Anglesey and Shropshire Hills with the fastest, most reliable broadband networks on the market.
Other areas to benefit from new contracts include Devon, Essex, Herefordshire, Shropshire, Somerset, north and southwest Wales, the north-east of England and Worcestershire.
What’s more, the new contracts add to the 96,600 premises already set to benefit under an agreement worth £800m between the government and Openreach, agreed last year. This aims to modernise broadband infrastructure across rural areas of England, Scotland and Wales.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: ‘We are determined to deliver the infrastructure this country needs to thrive, and I am thrilled to see so many homes and businesses in all areas of the country getting access to the fastest broadband speeds on the market through Project Gigabit. With today’s £289m investment, we are not only boosting connectivity, but making it easier to access remote healthcare, online education, shopping online. work, learn, shop and stay in touch with loved ones online. As part of this government’s Plan for Change, we will plug digital divides, helping to make the UK a more equal society where everyone is given a fair shot in life.’
Clive Selley, CEO of Openreach, adds: ‘Our new Full Fibre broadband network now reaches more than half of all properties in the UK, and we’re confident we can reach as many as 30m premises by the end of the decade, assuming the right regulatory and investment conditions exist. This is a British infrastructure success story which experts say will boost productivity by £73bn and bring a raft of social and environmental benefits for the country. We believe that everyone deserves access to fast and reliable broadband, and we’re proud that this partnership will help extend our ultrafast, ultra-reliable network to areas that would otherwise be left behind by the private sector.’
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