Business to benefit from £70m broadband scheme
A £70m investment is set to transform broadband services in North Yorkshire in a move widely welcomed by the county’s businesses.
North Yorkshire County Council has struck a deal with BT that will see 90% of homes and business have access to speeds of up to 80Mbps by the end of 2014.
BT, the county council and the Government are sharing the cost of the project which is also supported by money from the European Regional Development Fund.
Council deputy leader Carl Les said: “North Yorkshire is a large rural county with many remote premises. As a result, deploying broadband is a particular challenge.
“We believe the technology is vital to our economic future however and so we are delighted to have signed this agreement. The project will help local businesses to be competitive and ensure they remain in the county.
“It can also play an important role in attracting even more firms to the county thereby helping to create jobs for local people.”
BT has already committed £23m to rolling out fibre broadband in the county and has now promised an additional £10m to support its delivery in areas that may not produce a commercial return.
Bill Murphy, managing director for Next Generation Access at BT, said: “The race to provide the UK with the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015 is still very much on, and we’re looking forward to working with other local authorities and regions to bring the economic benefits of high speed broadband to businesses and communities everywhere.”
Businesses in North Yorkshire have long complained that the county’s broadband infrastructure puts them at a disadvantage.
Barry Dodd, chairman of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “This is great news for businesses in North Yorkshire as broadband is an enabling technology that will benefit almost everyone.
“The LEP’s role is to help our business community make the most of this fantastic opportunity.”
Julian Smith, the MP for Skipton and Ripon, led the Westminster campaign to secure Government funding and is organising a conference on broadband later this year.
He said: “This announcement is the modern day equivalent of the coming of the railways or the introduction of canals.
“The award of this contract marks an exciting moment in the development of high quality, high speed broadband across North Yorkshire. North Yorkshire and York Members of Parliament came together 18 months ago to support the bid for Government money to improve internet connections because, for too long, homes and businesses in this county have lagged behind more urban areas in the digital revolution.”
