New Delhi: 312,000 rural homes and businesses in the UK will gain access to faster broadband in a major overhaul of infrastructure, a press release by the UK government stated.
The £800 million investment will see 312,000 homes and businesses in rural areas of England, Scotland and Wales connected with gigabit-capable broadband.
The deal with telecoms provider Openreach will see the UK government meet its target of reaching full gigabit coverage by 2030. The project will provide improved connectivity for families and businesses in remote areas of the country, where better digital infrastructure will allow them to better access key services such as streaming films, video calling, and downloading large files. It will also help to create new jobs and attract further businesses to the area, as well as improve public services such as online consultations.
Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, said: “Over the past decade, the UK’s broadband rollout has not happened fast enough and has overlooked too many areas, especially in Scotland and Wales.
“Robust digital infrastructure is essential for growth, productivity and competitiveness and this shortfall not only poses risks to our economic stability but also entrenches existing inequalities across the country,” Kyle added.