Posts Tagged BDUK
£120 million broadband scheme in Scotland to go ahead
Posted by Jeremy in Latest Broadband News on August 29, 2011
Councillors in South of Scotland have come together to support a £120 million broadband funding model which has been designed to be able to deliver super fast broadband throughout Dumfries and Galloway, as well as throughout the Scottish Borders by 2020. At the moment it would appear that BT’s own investment will only run to upgrades in two regions, being Innerleithen and Anna. With interest in the funding model high, this is a part of the delivery of information to Councillors relating to the model:
“This project is the single largest infrastructure project for the south of Scotland and its importance to the future of the region should not be underestimated. The delivery of NGB should be viewed as a public utility available for all. While the investment required is significant, the potential positive affect across the region within the private, public and residential sectors is considerable.”
At present, Scotland has been awarded just £69 million by the broadband delivery UK body that was set up in order to divide the funds around the UK from a central pool. Starting with a £530 million figure, many in Scotland are somewhat unhappy that they have not been awarded more than this, but this is perhaps why this model has been greeted with so much interest as well as enthusiasm. Obviously the South of Scotland would only receive a small proportion of the £69 million that has been pledged to Scotland overall, so it makes absolute sense that other plans are put in place as soon as possible in order to make the likelihood of good quality broadband reaching Scotland in the near future a lot more likely.
Wales to get major financial boost in the battle to boost broadband
Posted by Jeremy in Broadband Reviews, Latest Broadband News on July 27, 2011
Wales is set to benefit from another windfall of cash to go towards the efforts of the government and wholesale providers of super fast broadband to deliver a fibre optic network across the country. the money, said to be in the region of £59 million, will be coming from the BDUK. The Welsh Government are set to decide exactly how this money will be distributed in order to best support the effort being made to make Wales a serious digital country. the British government have leaned heavily on the Welsh assembly to match their own contribution in order for the funds to make areal difference. Jeremy Hunt, the Secretary for State and Culture had this to say on the matter:
“Superfast broadband is essential if businesses are to grow and create new jobs. It is increasingly important for the way we deliver public services and to our everyday lives.
But some areas of the UK are being left behind. Many rural and hard-to-reach communities do not have decent broadband access. We must ensure the whole country can join the digital age.
We are investing £56.9 million to help take broadband to the whole of Wales. If the Welsh Government matches our investment, 90 per cent of the country’s homes and businesses will have access to superfast broadband.
If you suffer the frustration of slow internet connections, then tell your Welsh Assembly Member that you need broadband. Urge them to make this investment and ensure that Wales is not left behind”.
For the sake of the homes and businesses in Wales it is to be hoped that this money makes a vital and significant difference in the short term the country stands a real chance of getting ahead of the game, and from the point of view of a consumer, it is a great time for this to be happening, with BT spring deals available at the moment, there couldn’t be a cheaper or better time to go super fast!