Broadband upgrade to bring £299m to Gloucestershire
UPGRADING Gloucestershire's broadband network could give the local economy a £299m boost, it has been revealed.
Shire Hall councillors will today decide whether or not to proceed with the final negotiations on the terms of a contract to dramatically improve internet access across the county.
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Broadband boost
The estimated economic boost of the Borders Broadband project, which would be delivered in partnership with Herefordshire Council, is £32m a year – or almost £300m over a 10-year period.
The project is part of the Grow Gloucestershire campaign, which is set to improve the county's economic prospects, and help get young people into work.
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The Borders Broadband scheme would use a mix of public sector money and private investment to bring super fast broadband to isolated rural areas, including the Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean and parts of Cheltenham.
Proposed public sector investment in the scheme currently stands at £35.4m, including £7.5m from Gloucestershire.
The county council's ambition is to provide basic broadband to every premises by 2015 and 'next generation' access of 30mbps to as close to 100 per cent of premises as possible by 2018.
It is hoped the council's plans to improve broadband will add to the county's appeal as a business location.
Mike Cuttell, the owner of Ullenwood Court Business Park which installed its own broadband line, is fully supportive of the plans. He said: "You cannot run a business park nowadays without having good broadband. It's absolutely vital. If you haven't got good broadband you are immediately at a disadvantage."
Gloucestershire County Council leader Mark Hawthorne said: "This is a major opportunity for Gloucestershire and in tough times we have to be willing to make brave decisions. High-speed broadband will make a huge difference to our rural communities."
Comments
by Driud
Saturday, September 15 2012, 9:08PM
“If you want good Broadband speed just get Virgin Cable. You do have to pay for it. But you get what you pay for.... simple”
by Laplands
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 6:23PM
“BT the biggest rip off company going will have control over it. Lets face it, no matter which provider you are with unless you have cable, which CBC stopped way back in time, you need a phone line. So unless good old rip off BT upgrade their exchanges and change their lines from copper to fibre optic, you will still only get the same speed. The trouble with this country is that the good old goverment we so dearly love never ever do anything about companies who have the monopoly over things, hence why rip off BT still charge you £13 a month for a phone line you may never ever use apart from to connect to the internet. I remember the goverment saying they want every household in the uk to have access to the internet, well until someone forces good old rip off BT too drop this charge for phone lines to enable people to connect to the internet its never going to happen. If you could capture hot air and turn it into power parliment is the place to harness it because thast where most of it comes from and that in turn is passed down to local councils. America does,nt charge for phone calls yet we are always charged the earth, and America also charges the minimal for broadband. here the average household pays around £30 per month. Welcome ot rip off britain run my parasites only out to line their own pockets.”
by chrismartin
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 6:04PM
“Not sure how they can influence the plans bt have with infinity where they move the slams into the communities.. but if you want speed now there are other options. Im in the sticks and get 60mbit through vm.”
by chrismartin
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 6:01PM
“Cheltenham20 I think you mean 1gigabit, a byte is eight times larger.”
by TIMONLINE2010
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 2:56PM
“I'd second that cheltenham20.”
by cheltenham20
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 10:26AM
“Well i hope they start in the Coombe hill area first, our broadband is so slow, its quicker to send a message by post...Bt keeps telling us how wonderful there high speed broadband is, but here on the north side of cheltenham we are lucky to get 1 gigabite of speed...Should i move house i will make sure there is a cable connection....So stop talking and lets have some action...”