Fylde MP Mark Menzies has welcomed the Government’s announcement of £5 billion to ensure the hardest-to-reach parts of the country get full and fast broadband coverage.
The funding will be used to deliver gigabit-capable broadband across the UK, ensuring those areas currently left behind are brought up to speed.
Mr Menzies said: “I’m pleased to hear of this investment from the Government; there are still areas in Fylde where broadband connectivity and speed are simply not good enough.
“I have spoken to BT Openreach, which is installing the network across the UK, to ask for improvements in several rural areas and to the east end of Lytham.
“I hope this funding will help plug the gaps we have in the area and give everyone access to fast broadband.
“It is vital, especially in rural areas not just to help businesses grow, but also to make areas more attractive for people to want to live and work there.
“It is also vital, in communities which are somewhat more remote, that people are able to use a fast and reliable broadband service to contact other residents, businesses and services.”
Gigabit broadband is faster, more reliable, and more affordable to operate than copper-based networks, and is 40 times faster than existing ‘superfast’ broadband.
This will benefit the 5.6 million small and medium sized businesses, improving their productivity and ensuring they are not held back from poor infrastructure. Small and medium sized businesses account for 60 per cent of private sector employment and more than 50 per cent of business revenues.