We’re on the way to rolling out better broadband

Over the past year, a complex procurement process involving several bidders has been carried out to find a commercial partner to use the public funding to roll out the broadband infrastructure to areas that would not be able to get it otherwise.

As the lead authority, Cambridgeshire County Council Cabinet approved the award of contract to BT on 4 February 2013 to roll-out better broadband across the county over the next three years.

The contract will mean that the County can achieve its ambition for more than 90% of homes and businesses in Cambridgeshire andPeterboroughto be able to receive superfast broadband (at least 24Mbps) with the aim of bringing basic broadband of at least 2 Mbps to 100% of premises by 2015.

This decision is followed by a so-called ‘standstill’ period during which Connecting Cambridgeshire will seek State Aid approval from the Government body BDUK (Broadband Delivery UK) on behalf of the EU. This allows public funds to be used to provide broadband infrastructure in areas where commercial companies do not plan to invest.

The contract is due to be finalised and signed-off in March 2013, when further details will be announced.

What about rural areas?

Connecting Cambridgeshire is working closely with District Councils, Cambridgeshire ACRE and other partners to support rural parishes and community groups seeking to improve broadband coverage in their areas.

Get Cambridgeshire ConnectedJoin the broadband campaign HERE