BT builds out Lincolnshire superfast broadband network

BT has secured another Lincolnshire-based deal through the Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) framework to provide superfast broadband services to local residents.

The telco will work with North Lincolnshire and North East Lincolnshire Councils to rollout the high-speed fibre broadband to 89 per cent of homes and businesses within both areas.

This deal forms part of the Northern Lincs Broadband Programme, and BT has committed 1.51 million in funding, while a further 2.64 million is being stumped up by BDUK.

In addition to this, the European Regional Development Fund, which partly finances the Northern Lincs Broadband Programme, will contribute 1.557 million.

The deal follows on from the announcement back in March that BT had clinched a similar deal worth 48 million through BDUK to provide fibre broadband to Lincolnshire County Council residents.

The North Lincs deal will see BT deploy Fibre-to-the-Cabinet technology to deliver wholesale downstream speeds of up to 80Mbps and upstream speeds of up to 20Mbps.

The company also reiterated that its network would be open to all comms providers on a wholesale basis, so that consumers and businesses can procure services from a wider range of suppliers.

A spokesperson for North Lincolnshire Council said local residents should expect to enjoy a better standard of connectivity from 2014 onwards.

"This is an important step in the campaign to bring faster broadband speeds to every home, business and school in North and North East Lincs," the spokesperson said.

Bill Murphy, managing director for BT's Next Generation Access arm, added: "Superfast broadband will open the doors to countless business opportunities, boosting the rural economy and supporting thriving local communities."