Partner Article

Newcastle businesses to benefit from £6m broadband scheme

Businesses are being promised access to faster and more widespread broadband across Newcastle city centre.

The city has been awarded £6m from the Government as part of the UK-wide Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) initiative, which aims to boost the UK’s broadband provision.

As part of the scheme, £3m of vouchers will be available to small and medium sized businesses to install faster Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband.

Plus, users of the Metro, public buildings and city centre and district high streets will be able to access high-speed wireless connections while they are on the move.

Leader of Newcastle City Council Cllr Nick Forbes said: “This is great news for the city. It will transform the way that people go about their daily lives and bring massive benefits to residents, visitors and businesses.

“Over 40,000 adults in Newcastle have never used the internet so I am delighted that we have secured this funding to get more people connected to the web.

“Never before has it been more important for people have access to the internet especially now that the Government requires people to fill out welfare forms on line.

“Ultrafast broadband today is essential, and it’s a key part of being a modern European city. Having wi-fi on the Metro brings 21st century services to our transport infrastructure.

“Getting everyone connected is a real challenge but it is something we are determined to do - not through coercion but - by demonstrating the benefits.”

Tobyn Hughes, deputy director general of Metro operator, Nexus, said: “We were the first in the UK to give Metro passengers mobile phone reception throughout their journey.

“This funding commitment will let us develop proposals for improved wireless and Wi-Fi connectivity allowing much faster internet connections for passengers throughout their journey.”

The city council was unveiled as one of 10 UK cities in 2011 that would share a pot of £100m to improve connectivity to boost business. However, the terms of the deal had to be renegotiated following legal complaints from BT and Virgin Media.

Newcastle’s new scheme will now go ahead after the Government approved the city council’s ideas.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Karen Dent .