Firm wins £58m Government contract to upgrade rural broadband
Hull-based smart technology and digital provider, Connexin, has received £58.6m worth of Government funding to roll out fast, reliable broadband to remote communities throughout Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire.
The money has been awarded by Building Digital UK (BDUK), an executive agency of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), as part of Project Gigabit.
Project Gigabit is the Government’s flagship £5bn programme to enable hard-to-reach communities to gain access to “lightning-fast” gigabit-capable broadband.
Over 34,000 rural properties in hard-to-reach areas such as Kirkby in Ashfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Annesley, Wragby and Market Rasen will undergo a major digital upgrade with the introduction of Connexin’s full fibre to the premise (FTTP) broadband infrastructure.
Residents will be able to benefit from speeds of up to 1Gbps.
The Connexin team has started planning and design works to enable the first premises to be connected to the network in early 2025.
Furqan Alamgir, CEO at Connexin, said: “Through the award of this contract, we are pleased to be able to play our part in the UK government’s mission to level up and bring gigabit connectivity to our rural communities.
“Our mission is not just about connecting people but also about how such connectivity can improve lives.
“We believe everyone has the right to the same opportunities, and we firmly believe in digital inclusion and what it can unlock.
“We look forward to working with BDUK to future proof the infrastructure and bring fast, reliable broadband to the region.”
Data and digital infrastructure minister, Julia Lopez, added: “Thousands of people across Nottinghamshire and West Lincolnshire are set to benefit from connectivity fit for the future, thanks to Project Gigabit.
“We’re making strides in connecting communities in hard-to-reach areas across the country, and this latest announcement will bring us one step closer to our digital transformation, opening up vast opportunities in rural areas.”
More than £1bn in contracts have now been awarded through Project Gigabit to connect around 677,000 homes and businesses, with tens of millions of pounds worth of additional contracts to be awarded across the country in the coming weeks.
Last month the Government revealed that gigabit coverage had reached 80% of the UK, up from just 6% in 2019, and the UK is on track to achieve 85% by 2025.
Connexin was advised by law firm Brodies LLP, and Analysys Mason provided specialist bid support.
