Government suspends broadband voucher scheme

Small businesses across the UK wishing to gain access to superfast broadband are going to have to do so without the assistance of the government's voucher scheme, which has been suspended this week.

On Tuesday (13 October) the Department for Culture, Media and Sport released a statement on its website saying that SMEs can no longer apply for the vouchers, which offer them up to £3,000 in funds to help them connect to a broadband service.

The statement read: "The Connection Voucher Scheme is currently suspended.

"The funds available to the Scheme are close to being fully committed and we have suspended the scheme. Whilst the Scheme is suspended, cities will not accept applications.

"A further update will appear here shortly."

The government's voucher scheme was available across 50 British cities. Recognising the importance of broadband for businesses today, it encouraged firms to review their broadband connectivity and offered them the finances required to upgrade to faster services.

The government invested £100 million in the initiative, saying that when the funding had run out the scheme would end, although a further £40 million was thrown into it. As of September 2015, more than 40,000 UK SMEs had taken advantage of the programme and it suggests that the funding has now run out.

The Connection Voucher Scheme was open on a first come, first served basis to companies with fewer than 250 employees and making under £42.4 million per annum. At its height, 1,000 vouchers a week were being handed out.

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