Thousands to get high speed fibre broadband

The Superfast Broadband Nottinghamshire project will build on BT’s commercial investment in the county, which will deliver fibre broadband to more than 400,000 premises in the county by the end of 2014.

Once the project is complete, high speed broadband of up to 80Mbps will be available to 95 per cent of homes and businesses by the end of March 2016, with a minimum of 2Mbps broadband speeds for all.

It will open up opportunities for more businesses and schools to get online, creating new jobs and boosting the local economy.

Coun Alan Rhodes, leader of Notts County Council, said: “I am very proud to be able to bring a fibre broadband service to 95 per cent of the county’s homes and businesses.”

“By working with BT and other partners including the district and city councils, we will end the digital divide experienced by many of our rural areas.”

“Businesses, schools and families will all benefit from the significant economic, educational and leisure advantages that high speed broadband brings to everyone with higher online speeds for video, shopping and file sharing,” he added.

Notts County Council is investing £2.5 million in the project and successfully won a bid for an additional £2.7 million of European funding to bring high speed broadband to even more businesses.

BDUK, the Government’s broadband delivery arm, is contributing £4.5 million to the scheme with a further £800,000 coming from borough and district councils.

BT is contributing the remaining £9.3 million towards fibre deployment in non-commercial areas.

In total, 52,000 business premises and homes will benefit from the project.

BT will start work on planning the roll-out of the new high speed cabling immediately, conducting site surveys to identify how to install thousands of kilometres of high speed fibre optic cable across the county.

This will help shape the roll-out upgrade plan for connecting homes and businesses, which is expected to start in spring next year.

Bill Murphy, BT’s managing director for Next Generation Access, added: “This is exciting news for everyone who lives and works in Notts.”

“Superfast broadband will open the doors to countless business opportunities, boosting the rural economy and supporting thriving local communities.”

The contract was formally signed at County Hall on Monday and follows an extensive and thorough procurement process.

For up to date information on the project visit www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/broadband.