Multi-million pound broadband extension for Leicestershire

Further homes in Leicestershire are to benefit from fibre broadband thanks to project extension, it has been announced.

People living in some of the most rural parts of the area are set to benefit from a further £4.4 million extension of fibre broadband. Areas to benefit include Brooksby, Elmesthorpe, Scalford, among others.

To celebrate the news, the head of the government’s broadband delivery arm, William Priest, visited some of the places expected to benefit.

The extension has been made possible by a reinvestment of earlier funding by the County Council and BT due to high levels of take up of broadband services by local homes and businesses.

This news means a further 2,000 premises will now be included as part of the current rollout, which will bring super fast broadband coverage to 97 per cent by September 2018.

Leicestershire County Council’s Superfast Leicestershire partnership with BT will build on the work that has already made the technology with super fast speeds available to more than 60,000 homes and business in the county and city, with 13,000 more experiencing higher speeds than before.

This latest extension means that by September 2018 more than 90,000 homes and businesses are set to benefit from the Superfast Leicestershire rollout of fibre broadband, 74,000 of which will be able to access superfast speeds.

Nick Rushton, council leader, said: “Broadband is an essential driver for further growth, innovation and job creation.

“Residents and businesses need reliable, fit-for-future communications. I'm pleased to say that we have worked effectively to deliver the programme on time and under budget, it's a great success.

“It's fantastic that so many rural areas will now see fibre broadband across whole communities rather than in parts. We have truly been working together over the past couple of years to ensure the network is continually growing. I'm proud to be part of a project that is transforming the way remote areas get online.”

Matt Hancock, Minister for Digital, said: “Superfast broadband is increasingly at the heart of modern life and we are determined to make sure everyone has the fast and reliable connectivity they need. This is great news for Leicestershire and such a strong take-up rate is an inspiration to other parts of the UK. We have already taken superfast broadband to 93 per cent of UK homes and businesses, and I'm delighted that another 2,000 premises in Leicestershire will now be included in the rollout.”