Two thirds of broadband projects now underway
Dorset is 29th area to sign multi-million pound contract to bring superfast broadband to 90% of the UK.
Two thirds of the Government projects to deliver superfast broadband to 90 per cent of the UK are now underway, following today’s announcement that Dorset has signed a multi-million pound contract to bring faster broadband speeds to thousands more homes and businesses in the county.
Dorset now joins 28 other local authorities and devolved administrations around the UK who are seeing work begin on the roll out of superfast broadband in their areas, with the remaining 15 projects due to have agreed contracts shortly.
Although most projects have only recently moved from procurement to the delivery stage, almost 60,000 additional premises now have access to superfast speeds as a result of work already completed, with new cabinets already having “gone live” in North Yorkshire, Norfolk, Surrey, Wales and Lancashire. The first cabinets in Hereford & Gloucestershire, Rutland, and Devon & Somerset are all due to go live later this month.
Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said:
We are witnessing a historic transformation in the nation’s broadband, and we are already well ahead of other major European countries in many respects. The work we are now doing will reinforce the UK’s position as a leading digital economy, be a major driver of local jobs and national growth, and help us win the global race.
But that’s not enough. We are now exploring with industry how to expand coverage further, using more innovative fixed, wireless and mobile broadband solutions. We aim to reach at least 99 per cent of premises in the UK by 2018.