WightFibre receives £9m Government backing for rural rollout

WightFibre has been allocated up to £9m from the UK Government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) programme to extend its rollout to more rural areas of the Isle of Wight.

The funding will enable the altnet to extend its’ rollout to more rural areas of the Isle of Wight.

Areas set to benefit from the voucher funding include Ventnor, Seaview, St Helens, Bembridge, Shalfleet, Yarmouth, Freshwater, Totland, Mottistone, Brightstone, Chale, Chale Green, Niton, Whitwell, Wroxall, Rookley, Newchurch, Winford, Alverstone Garden Village and Haven Street.

WightFibre’s rollout will reach 60,000 homes by the end of 2022 with the remainder due to be completed by the end of 2023.

CEO John Irvine said: “This BDUK voucher funding will allow us to reach even more premises to ensure no one is left behind.”

The Government’s Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez commented: “Our voucher scheme is energising broadband firms such as Wightfibre to build ultra high-speed internet infrastructure in the most hard-to-reach parts of the Isle of Wight.

“There is up to £9 million worth of vouchers available for homes and businesses on the Island and I’d encourage anyone looking for a broadband boost to apply.”