600,000 homes in remote locations to benefit from superfast broadband
Up to 600,000 homes and businesses in remote locations are to benefit from the roll-out of superfast broadband.
Up to 600,000 homes and businesses in remote locations are to benefit from the roll-out of superfast broadband.
A total of ÂŁ440 million of funding has been unlocked by the UK Government to give properties in hard-to-reach parts of the UK quick and reliable internet connections.
It means streaming music or films, which is the norm for city locations, will also be available in remote locations.
The cash windfall is a combination of efficiency savings and a claw-back mechanism which reinvests money when people take up superfast connections installed by the Broadband Delivery UK project.
New figures show around 1.5 million homes and businesses have signed up for superfast connections in areas where there is a subsidised roll-out.
As a result, BT will be releasing ÂŁ292 million for extra connections following ÂŁ133 million which has already been allocated to be spent in UK regions - which gave Scotland a share of almost ÂŁ18 million.
The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport says careful contract management by Government, local authorities and BT has saved more than ÂŁ150 million in 44 projects in the first phase of the broadband expansion.
It means a total of ÂŁ442 million can now be reinvested in taking fast broadband to some of the most remote parts of the country.
Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said: “Our Broadband Delivery UK programme is giving families and businesses in hard-to-reach areas the fast and reliable internet connections which are increasingly at the heart of modern life.
“Strong take-up and robust value-for-money measures mean £440 million will be available for reinvestment where it matters, putting more connections in the ground.
“This will benefit around 600,000 extra premises and is a further sign of our commitment to build a country that works for everyone.”
Superfast broadband, measured at 24Mbps, allows families to surf the web, stream films or music, play online games or watch TV on multiple devices at the same time.
Businesses are also said to benefit by using superfast broadband to run websites and buy and sell products or services online.