T: 01822 851370 E: admin@sparse.gov.uk
The Rural Services Network (RSN) is thrilled to announce the National Rural Conference 2024, taking place from 16th to 19th September. This virtual event, accessible via Zoom, is the premier gathering for senior officers, members, policymakers, and rural service professionals.
Further information and booking details can be found here
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up to £800 million in government funding, seeks to address the digital divide that has left many rural communities with outdated and insufficient internet connections.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.
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Kerry Booth, Chief Executive, Rural Services Network:
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