Thirteen local full-fibre broadband projects receive funding
Spring Statement 2018 has allocated the first wave of funding, providing over £95 million for 13 areas across the UK
Spring Statement 2018 has allocated the first wave of funding, providing over £95 million for 13 areas across the UK
Thirteen areas across the UK are set to benefit from the first wave of funding from the Government’s £190m Local Full Fibre Network (LFFN), the Chancellor has announced in his Spring Statement.
Armagh City, (including Banbridge & Craigavon), Belfast, Blackpool, Cambridgeshire, Cardiff, Coventry (including Solihull & Warwickshire), The Highlands, London, Manchester, Mid Sussex, North Yorkshire, Portsmouth, and Wolverhampton have been announced as the successful bidders for the £95m allocated to successful projects.
Whilst 95% of UK premises can now get superfast broadband, only 3% have access to gigabit-capable full fibre infrastructure. With the need for faster connectivity expected to dramatically increase over the coming years, the LFFN programme aims to leverage local and commercial investment in full fibre across the whole of the UK landscape. It will do this through funding a series of projects that seek to stimulate the market by making the deployment of gigabit-capable full fibre infrastructure more commercially viable.
The successful projects include:
The LFFN programme is part of the government’s £31 billion National Productivity Investment Fund aimed at improving productivity, which is key to raising living standards.
A main focus of the government’s Industrial Strategy is ensuring the right connectivity is in place for the for the UK’s digital economy to thrive, and the LFFN programme forms a vital part of this work.