Additional funding for broadband in Shropshire is welcomed
MP Philip Dunne has welcomed news that Shropshire is to receive the second highest allocation of additional broadband funding to local authorities in the country.
£11.38 million has been allocated to be spent in Shropshire out of £12.8 million for Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
The Government has announced it is allocating an additional £250 million to support rollout of superfast broadband in the UK, on top of the £1.2 billion already being invested to extend superfast coverage to 95% of the UK by 2015.
Mr Dunne said “News of this really significant extra funding for Shropshire is most welcome. It will make a major difference in supporting Connecting Shropshire in rolling out superfast broadband across the county.
"I am really pleased the Government has made this clear commitment to improving connectivity across Shropshire, which will receive £11.38 million, the second highest funding of any local authority in England.
"We have a significant number of home workers in Shropshire who rely on fast reliable broadband to run their businesses, and increasing broadband provision will help reduce barriers to inward local investment. With a net return of £20 by 2024 for every £1 spent now, current investment in broadband is projected to boost growth in Shropshire.
"Reliable superfast broadband will help local businesses to explore new markets, develop new business models and create jobs and growth here in Shropshire. I have also recently supported Shropshire Council’s bid for the £10 million fund available to extend broadband to the hardest to reach remote rural locations.”
Superfast broadband coverage in the UK is already higher than in Germany, Italy, Spain and France and the Government’s current investment is already delivering superfast upgrades to more than 10,000 more homes and businesses each week, set to rise to 40,000 premises per week by the summer.
