Broadband links to Suffolk to be fast tracked
Thursday, 15th September 2011.
Plans to bring Suffolk's broadband network into the 21st century are to be fast tracked, the Government announced today.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed that Suffolk will be one of first five counties to kick off their Government-backed programmes to make superfast broadband available across their areas.
Having missed out on an initial funding round but later awarded £11.68m from Broadband Delivery UK, Suffolk is now a leading county in the Government's aim to create the best broadband network in Europe.
It means Suffolk can begin the process of finding a contractor to carry out the work with a target completion date of March 2015.
The aim is to have 85 per cent of Suffolk premises with access to superfast (20Mbps or greater) fibre optic broadband. The remaining 15 per cent of premises will be served by fixed wireless broadband.
In June, Suffolk County Council agreed to invest up to £10m in the project - a move which almost certainly proved crucial in securing the backing from Government.
Suffolk County Council Leader Mark Bee said: "This is the most important milestone so far in our campaign to deliver better broadband for Suffolk. It's incredible to think how far we've come in such a short space of time.
"People, businesses and local communities can now really look forward to a broadband revolution which will change their lives."
Haverhill's MP Matthew Hancock said: “It is brilliant that the Government has given the green light to Suffolk’s local broadband plan.
"Suffolk has now been awarded £11.68 million from the Government to implement its local broadband plan, which will bring super-fast broadband to rural Suffolk.
“After BT’s announcement on Monday that Mildenhall will have access to super-fast broadband next year, and the existing commitment to bring super-fast broadband to Haverhill this summer and Newmarket in the spring, this is yet more good news.
"This will finally make super-fast broadband a reality for rural parts of Suffolk, where businesses and families have long been frustrated at the slowness of their connection.
“I have been fighting with other Suffolk MPs and the county council for better broadband access, so I am thrilled at the news.”
Over the next six months, the Suffolk Better Broadband Programme Board, led by Suffolk County Council and including representatives borough and district council, local businesses and the voluntary sector, will be working on developing a comprehensive picture of priority areas in Suffolk.
A campaign will be launched to encourage people to register their interest in superfast broadband. This will be used to help decide how the project is rolled out across Suffolk.
Andy Wood, chief executive of Adnams, said: "This is tremendous news for Suffolk. High speed broadband is an essential piece of infrastructure that is a vital ingredient for businesses of all sizes across the county to be competitive and successful.
"This announcement, together with the announcement by BT earlier in the week, means Suffolk is potentially in the fast lane by being one of first counties in the UK to install a robust, reliable and resilient fibre optic network deep and wide into the county. In this digital age it is only what the businesses and people of Suffolk deserve."
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has confirmed that Suffolk will be one of first five counties to kick off their Government-backed programmes to make superfast broadband available across their areas.
Having missed out on an initial funding round but later awarded £11.68m from Broadband Delivery UK, Suffolk is now a leading county in the Government's aim to create the best broadband network in Europe.
It means Suffolk can begin the process of finding a contractor to carry out the work with a target completion date of March 2015.
The aim is to have 85 per cent of Suffolk premises with access to superfast (20Mbps or greater) fibre optic broadband. The remaining 15 per cent of premises will be served by fixed wireless broadband.
In June, Suffolk County Council agreed to invest up to £10m in the project - a move which almost certainly proved crucial in securing the backing from Government.
Suffolk County Council Leader Mark Bee said: "This is the most important milestone so far in our campaign to deliver better broadband for Suffolk. It's incredible to think how far we've come in such a short space of time.
"People, businesses and local communities can now really look forward to a broadband revolution which will change their lives."
Haverhill's MP Matthew Hancock said: “It is brilliant that the Government has given the green light to Suffolk’s local broadband plan.
"Suffolk has now been awarded £11.68 million from the Government to implement its local broadband plan, which will bring super-fast broadband to rural Suffolk.
“After BT’s announcement on Monday that Mildenhall will have access to super-fast broadband next year, and the existing commitment to bring super-fast broadband to Haverhill this summer and Newmarket in the spring, this is yet more good news.
"This will finally make super-fast broadband a reality for rural parts of Suffolk, where businesses and families have long been frustrated at the slowness of their connection.
“I have been fighting with other Suffolk MPs and the county council for better broadband access, so I am thrilled at the news.”
Over the next six months, the Suffolk Better Broadband Programme Board, led by Suffolk County Council and including representatives borough and district council, local businesses and the voluntary sector, will be working on developing a comprehensive picture of priority areas in Suffolk.
A campaign will be launched to encourage people to register their interest in superfast broadband. This will be used to help decide how the project is rolled out across Suffolk.
Andy Wood, chief executive of Adnams, said: "This is tremendous news for Suffolk. High speed broadband is an essential piece of infrastructure that is a vital ingredient for businesses of all sizes across the county to be competitive and successful.
"This announcement, together with the announcement by BT earlier in the week, means Suffolk is potentially in the fast lane by being one of first counties in the UK to install a robust, reliable and resilient fibre optic network deep and wide into the county. In this digital age it is only what the businesses and people of Suffolk deserve."
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