Farms to get big internet speed boost – Farmers Guide
August 16, 2024
Hundreds of thousands of homes and rural businesses will get a huge internet speed upgrade as part of an £800 million fund launched by the new government.
Up to £800 million of government investment will be made available to improve infrastructure in rural areas of England, Scotland and Wales, ending unemployment so farmers and rural people can daily internet activities.
The news has been welcomed as streaming movies, video calling, or downloading large files is currently very difficult in parts of Wales and Scotland.
The government said this landmark contract with telecoms provider Openreach represents one of the biggest steps in the rollout of Project Gigabit, which targets areas that are too expensive for providers to reach in their infrastructure. business and otherwise can be left behind with poor digital infrastructure.
Access to the fastest connection to the market
The deal will provide gigabit speed internet access to around 312,000 homes and businesses across Great Britain.
It is the first time Wales, an area with a low percentage of gigabit coverage, will benefit from the programme.
It will mean that residents and businesses in remote parts of Britain, such as the South Wales Valleys, Exmoor National Park and the Forest of Bowland will finally get a faster connection to the market.
Governmnet said the fund will help meet the growing need for reliable connectivity, boost the local rural economy and reduce regional disparities, by enabling remote working and attracting new businesses.
This announcement follows the government’s commitment to increase its efforts to achieve full gigabit coverage by 2030 and to use the great potential of technology to grow the economy, accelerate innovation and improve people’s lives.
It is essential for growth, productivity and competitiveness
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology Peter Kyle said: “Over the past decade, the roll-out of broadband in the UK has been slow and neglected too many areas, particularly in Scotland and Wales.
“A strong digital infrastructure is essential for growth, productivity and competitiveness, and this lack not only poses risks to the stability of our economy, but also reinforces existing inequalities across the country.
“We are fixing this by delivering hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses up and down the country, targeting areas that were not led by the previous government, such as Wales.”
The announcement also aims to improve learning opportunities for students, who will have better access to online resources and distance learning platforms, as well as healthcare patients, who will be able to continue to rely on remote communications.
Sustained economic growth in all parts of Britain
Deals worth £288 million have been signed with Openreach under a deal to connect around 96,600 homes and businesses in England and, for the first time, Wales.
Areas to benefit include Lancashire, North Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire, West and Mid-Surrey, Staffordshire, West Berkshire and Hertfordshire, West and North Devon, and North West, Mid and South East Wales.
The government added that talks are already underway with Openreach to agree additional contracts to help around 215,800 homes across England, Scotland and Wales, with further announcements expected in the coming months.
Areas expected to benefit from these future contracts include Central and North Scotland, North and South West Wales, Mid and South West Devon, East and South Shropshire, North Herefordshire, North Somerset, Essex, North East England and Worcestershire.
Digital Services Minister Chris Bryant added that too many rural residents and businesses are still stuck with outdated internet systems, unable to easily carry out everyday tasks such as people who live in our towns and cities.
“We have made it clear that we want to achieve sustainable economic growth in every part of Britain, and this starts with ensuring our communities have the infrastructure they need to thrive.
“This landmark agreement with Openreach will make a real difference to society – like staying with the people you love or being able to do business no matter where you are,” he concluded.
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