Last week, The UK Government announced significant investment aimed at improving digital infrastructure in rural areas, with plans to provide faster broadband to approximately 312,000 homes and businesses across Great Britain. This initiative, backed by up to £800 million in government funding, seeks to address the digital divide that has left many rural communities with outdated and insufficient internet connections.

The investment is part of Project Gigabit, a broader effort to achieve full gigabit coverage by 2030, particularly targeting regions that have been neglected in previous rollouts.

The announcement states that new broadband infrastructure will bring significant benefits to rural areas, enabling residents and businesses to perform everyday online tasks more efficiently. This includes smoother streaming, video calling, and the ability to download large files without the frustration of buffering. The upgrade is expected to stimulate local economies, enhance remote working opportunities, and attract new businesses to these areas.

Contracts worth £288 million have already been signed with telecoms provider Openreach to connect around 96,600 homes and businesses in England and Wales. Further contracts, currently under negotiation, aim to extend the benefits to an additional 215,800 premises across England, Scotland, and Wales.

Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, emphasised the importance of this initiative, acknowledging that the broadband rollout over the past decade had left too many areas behind. He stated that this investment is a crucial step toward achieving full gigabit coverage by 2030, laying the groundwork for a more inclusive and prosperous future for all citizens.

Read the announcement in full HERE.

Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network: "The Rural Services Network welcomes the announcement of £800 million to improve broadband infrastructure for 312,000 rural homes and businesses. This investment is a crucial step forward in addressing the digital divide that has long been a challenge for rural communities. We recognise that this is part of the wider programme of investment through Project Gigabit, which aims to deliver faster and more reliable broadband across the UK. However, while this investment is a positive development, it is imperative that this programme reaches all 'hard to reach' areas. The isolation faced by rural communities, exacerbated by inadequate digital infrastructure, has a profound impact on the well-being of residents and the potential prosperity of local businesses. Ensuring that even the most remote areas benefit from these upgrades will be key to unlocking the full potential of rural areas, fostering economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life for all who live and work there. We look forward to seeing how this investment will be rolled out and remain committed to advocating for comprehensive coverage that includes even the most challenging locations".