Superfast broadband set for '95 per cent' of Cambridgeshire

The county of Cambridgeshire is set to get a £5.3 million injection of cash into its superfast broadband programme.

The aim is to get more fibre connections to more businesses and homes, and will be one of the highest take-ups of fibre broadband in the UK.

According to a recent survey, 30 per cent of Cambridgeshire residents are already on the programme, with some of the villages in the county exceeding 70 per cent.

Currently, 100,000 homes and companies across Cambridgeshire are connected to high-speed broadband, thanks to the Connecting Cambridgeshire programme, with current speeds doubling over just three years, according to data from Ofcom.

The additional funding was approved by Cambridgeshire County Council's Economy and Environment Committee, which has pledged to bring fibre broadband to even the most challenging areas by 2020.

The funding will also help Connecting Cambridgeshire roll out the second and third phase. The second phase to 95 per cent of premises, including businesses, over the next two years. The third phase will focus on getting to the most difficult five per cent of the county using other technologies, such as wireless and satellite.

Councillor Ian Bates, chairman for the Economy and Environment Committee, commented on the cash injection: “The Connecting Cambridgeshire broadband rollout has covered almost a third of our homes and businesses, but we know there is still more to do to fill the gaps and make sure no community misses out.

"We’ve seen some of the highest take-up in the country, particularly in rural villages, and I’m delighted that the £5 million gainshare is available early, so it can be invested in helping even more people in the county to get faster internet connections.”

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(Image: Kings Sutton)