Worcestershire bags £1m superfast broadband rollout boost

Worcestershire will receive more than 1 million in funding from the Government's Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) initiative to accelerate the rollout of superfast broadband to the rural couty.

"This additional funding is excellent news for these rural communities in Worcestershire, and the extra 1,147,032 will take superfast broadband to approximately an extra 1,400 businesses and homes that would otherwise have had to wait," said Communications Minister Ed Vaizey.

"The UK already does more business online than any other European country and widespread access to superfast speeds will provide a welcome boost to Worcestershire's economy."

The funding is in addition to a previous deal Worcestershire County Council struck with BT to provide superfast speeds to 90 per cent of homes in the area.

Worcestershire County Council hopes the funding will provide fibre coverage across the county to 55,000 homes and businesses.

The council also plans to use the money to extend internet coverage into even more rural areas.

"Fast and reliable broadband coverage is crucial to building stronger rural economies and enabling farmers and all rural businesses to grow and thrive," said Rural Affairs Minister Dan Rogerson.

"This extra funding will allow rural businesses to benefit and will help close the rural and urban divide in broadband coverage."

More UK communities have come to view internet access as a necessity in today's economy.

Ninety five per cent of Worcestershire businesses said faster broadband would help their businesses grow in two-to-five years. Thirty-three per cent said it would enable them to create more jobs. The council estimates broadband could create more than 1,000 new jobs over the next five years.