Councils win funding for superfast broadband (From Daily Echo)

Superfast broadband to be rolled out across Hampshire and Southampton

10:49am Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Romsey

SUPERFAST broadband will be rolled out across Hampshire and Southampton over the next three years after the councils' funding bid was given the green light.

Ministers have allocated funding to provide 90 per cent of homes and businesses with access to a superfast service, while speeds of at least 2 Mbs (Megabits per second) will be available everywhere.

All councils were given the chance to apply for the cash, but had to complete a ‘Local Broadband Plan’ to get funding.

The county council won a £5m share of the £8.4m pot set aside for the region, including Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight. The money from Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) has to be matched by council and private finance.

At present, about 50,000 households and nearly 7,000 businesses across Hampshire are in broadband “not spots” with very slow broadband of speeds of 2Mbs or less.

The contract for the commercial partner is expected to be awarded in December this year with a three-year implementation programme completed by the end of 2015.