Thousands more Wiltshire households and business to get multi million pound fibre broadband boost
Wiltshire Council and BT today confirmed that more than 5,000 additional homes and businesses across the county are to benefit from access to fibre broadband.
Wiltshire Online, the partnership between Wiltshire Council, BT and the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK programme, has already made fibre broadband available to more than 83,000 homes and businesses across the county since it began in 2013.
And households and businesses have been quick to take advantage of the faster broadband. More than a third of those able to access the new technology as a result of the Wiltshire Online roll-out have already opted for an upgrade. This high demand has resulted in £2.8 million being reinvested in the programme to further increase fibre broadband coverage in communities across the county.
The high level plans are available at a postcode level on the Wiltshire Online website.
Welcoming today’s announcement, John Thomson, Wiltshire Council deputy leader and cabinet member for broadband, said: “Wiltshire is a great place to do business and having fibre broadband to match means more people can now benefit from the right technology in a fast paced world. We are working hard towards 100 percent coverage across Wiltshire.
“I’m delighted that more homes and businesses will now have broadband which will make such a positive difference to people’s business and home lives.”
Richard Leeding, BT’s programme manager, said: “This extension is great news for those communities in Wiltshire not included in the current fibre roll-out programme.
“Superfast broadband has a huge impact on the way we live. It helps business to move, act and trade quickly and effectively. It enables school children to access their homework online, as well as offering households better access to e-commerce, essential online services, social media and home entertainment. For all of these things, superfast broadband is a huge boost.”
The Wiltshire Online programme is making the high-speed technology available in areas which fall outside the private sector’s commercial roll-out of fibre broadband. More information about the programme can be found at Wiltshire Council’s Wiltshire Online website www.wiltshireonline.org
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About Wiltshire Online
Wiltshire Council’s Wiltshire Online programme is made up of three themes that underpin the whole programme. They are:
a. Connectivity and Provision
b. Online Services
c. Digital Literacy
The objectives for each are:
About Superfast Britain
Superfast Britain is a Government programme of investment in broadband and communication infrastructure across the UK. Run by the Department for 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:
1.£790m to extend superfast broadband to 95% of the UK by 2017;
2.£150m to provide high speed broadband to businesses in 22 cities; and
3.£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
