Government

Shortcomings in government incentives for high-capacity network expansion are stifling the ability of altnets to serve UK business growth, according to Neos Networks.

Simon Fell MP will rural businesses benefit from greater digital connectivity in his role  as the UK’s first Rural Connectivity Champion.

Welsh Ministers have kicked off a consultation into proposals requiring housing developers to ensure new builds are equipped with gigabit capability.

Essex County Council has unveiled a new digital programme designed to upgrade connectivity in the county’s most hard-to-reach areas.

More rural homes and businesses in Scotland will be access fibre following a £36m expansion of its its Reaching 100% (R100) contracts.

Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries has chosen Simon Blagden CBE to Chair Building Digital UK (BDUK), placing him at the help of Project Gigabit, backed with £5bn to connect hard-to-reach areas as well as the £1bn Shared Rural Network which will dial up 4G phone signal rural areas.

More than 900 public buildings in Northern Ireland have been connected to gigabit broadband through more than £25m of UK Government investment.

More than 600 public sector buildings in Wales have been connected to fibre as part of an £11.5m investment from the UK Government.

A multi-agency project has connected 152 public sector sites to fibre in the Scottish Highlands as part of the Building Digital UK (BDUK) Local Full Fibre Networks (LFFN) programme.

The Scottish Government is launching an Open Market Review Request for Information to identify potential intervention areas for public subsidy.