Superfast broadband scheme attracting more businesses to UK
The government’s plans to invest in superfast broadband are making the UK a more attractive place for business, one minister has claimed.
Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Digital Economy, has said that the government’s Superfast Britain scheme is already having the desired effects, adding that the ongoing rollout of faster broadband is bringing in greater investment to the UK.
Mr Vaizey said: "Investing in superfast broadband is a key part of the UK government’s plan to bring world-class connectivity to our homes and businesses.
"We recognise that the growing demands of the digital age will have a significant impact on the UK's competitiveness."
It has been well-reported that large parts of the UK are without broadband, or have very slow broadband, which is harming companies’ ability to go about their daily business and compete with rival firms. However, the minister said the government is making “great progress” in addressing this problem.
The government aims to provide 95 per cent of the UK with superfast broadband by 2017, and has set aside £780 million in funding to support this plan. Many of the schemes associated with this, including vouchers for companies needing to implement faster broadband, have gone unused though, with calls for more businesses to take advantage of the offer.
Meanwhile, findings from a report by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has claimed that rural areas will overtake towns and cities as the driving force behind Britain’s economy. Improving broadband speeds in the countryside is a key factor in this, Defra said, with businesses requiring reliable, high-speed internet to operate effectively.
The need for faster internet in rural areas in only going to increase over the coming years, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) has said, with more than half a million people leaving the cities to settle in the countryside over the next decade. Supporting the report by Defra, the ONS stated: “[Rural dwellers] more likely to start a business than those already there, helping to drive up economic activity and, potentially, productivity.”
For any business in need of fast, reliable internet, it can often be worthwhile to implement a leased line. hSo provides managed networks designed for business. To get an instant cost for a leased line at your location, visit our online leased line price checker.
(Image: Kainet)
