08
June
2014
|
23:00
Europe/London

Going live – fibre broadband programme puts world in motion for Nottinghamshire

More than 500 homes and businesses in Collingham will become the first to benefit from the £20m Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire (BBfN) programme.

Representatives from Nottinghamshire County Council, BT, the European Regional Development Fund and Broadband Delivery UK, who are all involved in the funding and delivery of the programme, along with representatives from Newark and Sherwood District Council - one of the wider partnership of funders - will gather to officially launch the programme’s first upgraded fibre broadband cabinet:


photo & filming opportunity
Time / Date: 10am, Thursday 12 June 2014.
Location: The Green, Collingham, NG23 7LQ.


The new cabinets will enable people to upgrade to the fibre broadband network so residents and businesses will be able to access the full range of benefits of a high-speed broadband connection, including faster download and upload speeds, an improved experience when buying and selling online, keeping in touch with friends and relatives through Skype and working from home.

It comes just in time for people to access action from the World Cup in Brazil, including the live streaming of matches.

This is just the beginning of a massive investment in and improvement of Nottinghamshire's broadband network. BBfN will build on the commercial rollout of fibre broadband by the private sector and result in 95% of homes and businesses having access to the high-speed, fibre network in 2016 - putting Nottinghamshire at the forefront of the best digitally-connected counties in the country.

Councillor Diana Meale, Chair of Economic Development Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "Seeing the first areas of Nottinghamshire go live is really exciting. BBfN opens up a world of opportunities for local people and businesses - transforming the way people communicate, do business, watch TV and get information.

"As well as empowering local people, BBfN is integral to Nottinghamshire County Council's plans for future economic growth. Being one of the best connected places in the country puts us in an extremely strong position to attract inward investment, new development and new jobs."


Steve Henderson BT’s regional director of next generation access for the East Midlands said “I’m delighted to unveil the first live cabinet for the Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire programme. This is a significant milestone in this exciting, challenging and complex engineering project. There’s a lot more to do and we’re off to a great start.”

The new network is available on an open wholesale basis to all internet service providers, thereby ensuring competitive pricing and products for local households and businesses.
In order to access the high-speed broadband network, people in upgraded areas should contact their chosen Internet Service Provider and enquire about a fast, fibre connection.

– More locations across Nottinghamshire will continue to go live regularly as the programme progresses, so keep checking back at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/broadband for the latest updates.


ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire

The Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire project, led by Nottinghamshire County Council and BT will change the way Nottinghamshire lives, works, plays and learns by investing £19.8 million to extend the county’s next generation fibre optic cable based broadband network to 95% of homes and businesses.

It opens up huge opportunities to improve the quality of life and leisure prospects for Nottinghamshire families and will open new opportunities through online learning and faster access to information and services. It will provide a huge boost for businesses and the Nottinghamshire economy. Nottinghamshire firms will be able to find and establish new markets (locally, internationally, and globally), increase their competitiveness and create new jobs.

The £19.8m is broken down as follows: Nottinghamshire County Council - £2.15m; Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) – £4.5m; ERDF - £2.7m; BT - £9.3m; Nottinghamshire District Councils (Ashfield District Council , Bassetlaw District Council, Broxtowe Borough Council, Gedling Borough Council, Mansfield District Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council and Rushcliffe Borough Council) - £1m; Nottingham City Council - £150,000.

Superfast Britain is a Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK. Run by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, this investment helps businesses to grow, creates jobs and will make Britain more competitive in the global race. The portfolio is comprised of three elements:
• £780m to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017
• £150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities
• £150m to improve quality and coverage of mobile phone and basic data network services

Administered on behalf of Government by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), Superfast Britain is transforming Britain by promoting growth, enabling skills and learning, and improving quality of life.
For further information: https://www.gov.uk/broadband-delivery-uk

ERDF
The Better Broadband for Nottinghamshire project is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013. The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit
www.gov.uk/browse/business/funding-debt/european-regional-development-funding