UK to Invest £363 million in Rural Broadband

The UK’s Department for Culture, Media and Sport announced plans to invest £363 million to bring broadband to “all of rural England and Scotland” by 2015. The goal is to offer “superfast broadband to 90% or premises and broadband to 100%. “Superfast broadband” is defined as speeds greater than 24 Mbps. Broadband is defined as connections of 2 Mbps and up.

The market is expected to ensure a vibrant market for broadband services for two thirds of the population. These public monies will provide the incentive for broadband roll-outs in rural areas.

English counties are set to receive £294.8 million, and Scotland £68.8 million. Similar funding announcements have already been made for Wales and Northern Ireland as part of the government’s £530 million investment programme.

http://www.culture.gov.uk/news/news_stories/8389.aspx