Government to invest £45 million in rural broadband

A £45 million injection from the government is set to boost broadband connectivity for rural businesses across the country.

Money will be allocated to local authorities via grants, in particular to areas where broadband speeds are below 30Mbps and where there are no immediate plans to improve them. The funds will be put towards developing full fibre connectivity wherever possible.

The money will support the government’s Rural Broadband Infrastructure Scheme and will add to the original £30 million worth of funds announced in 2017, bringing the current total to £75 million.

This announcement follows last week’s government report titled “Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review”, which detailed plans to roll out full fibre connectivity across the country with a high-priority emphasis on remote rural areas.

Rural Affairs Minister, Lord Gardiner during his visit to the North York Moors National Park announced yesterday that North Yorkshire will receive a £11 million grant.

He said: “Rural areas should not be left behind in the connectivity slow lane, missing out on the opportunities high speed broadband can bring. The funding made available through the Rural Broadband Infrastructure Scheme champions our countryside communities and businesses by opening up access to broadband of at least 30 Mbps, in some of the most hard to reach areas.”

The Scheme is part of a planned £3.5 billion investment to boost economic power in the countryside by 2020. It is estimated that this will aid roughly 25 per cent of all British businesses, which are located primarily in rural areas.

Funding will be used to boost broadband speeds and promote reliable connectivity to firmly link those in rural areas to the online sphere, to give people access to up-to-date changes in government policies, new technology and legal practices.

The investment will also be used to increase housing availability and employment opportunities.