Nearly 20,000 rural premises on Isle of Wight get fibre broadband
Almost 20,000 premises on the Isle of Wight have benefited from a broadband rollout targeted at some of the island's most remote areas.
According to the Isle of Wight Council, just over 18,600 homes and businesses, many in remote rural places, now have access to faster fibre broadband. The success comes as a result of the island's broadband project, which has worked with various internet and infrastructure providers to offer faster and more reliable broadband connections to residents.
The rural fibre broadband project is expected to reach its target of nearly 20,000 Isle of Wight premises, at which point it will bring the island's fibre broadband coverage up to 99 per cent - this in turn would make it one of the best connected parts of the UK.
Funding for the rural broadband project has come from the Isle of Wight Council, which is investing £2.4 million to match the funding provided by the UK government through the BDUK programme. Meanwhile BT has added a further £2.7 million of investment.
Isle of Wight Council executive member for economy and tourism, Councillor Shirley Smart, commented: "It is excellent news that we have almost reached the target of providing fibre broadband access for nearly 20,000 extra premises in mainly rural areas – and that ‘take up’ of this access is progressing well.
"This access ensures the Island will be one of the best connected areas in the UK, and it is vital now that as many people and businesses as possible take advantage of the benefits this can bring – especially with a view to attracting inward investment and providing a real boost for business and tourism on the Island."
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