Wessex Internet’s fibre services have gone live across 20 villages and other rural areas in Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire and Wiltshire since January 2024.
Fri, 1/07/2022 - 10:37
A joint £82m investment from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Department for Education (DfE) will connect up to 3,000 primary schools across Cornwall and Cumbria to full fibre.
The scheme is set to benefit an estimated 500,000 primary school pupils and encourage rollout of better broadband to surrounding rural homes and businesses.
Funding for up to 2,000 schools will be from the DCMS GigaHubs programme which is set to connect up to 7,000 rural public sector buildings including schools, GP surgeries, libraries and other public buildings.
An additional 1,000 schools will be funded by DfE as part of its mission to enable every school in England to access high-speed internet by 2025.
DfE is also investing £30m in the Connect the Classroom project, which aims to upgrade technology in thousands more schools in priority areas.
Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said: “Teaching has been revolutionised by digital technology and we need to make sure all pupils can benefit from the opportunity it brings.”
Schools Minister Robin Walker added: “This investment will open a whole world of possibilities for schools and teachers in hard-to-reach areas.”
