8:14AM, Thu Sep 20, 2012

Multi-Million Pound Government Investment For Super Fast Broadband In Newcastle

By Joe Daunt Location: Newcastle

Thousands of homes and businesses are set to benefit after Newcastle City Council has secured £6m of Government funding from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport for fixed and wireless broadband.

It follows a bid by the city council that was backed by businesses and residents.

The funding from the Urban Broadband Fund will effectively be doubled with match funding from the city council and the private sector, making a total investment of £12m.

Ultrafast broadband will be rolled out to an extra 6,500 residential and 3,900 business premises and provide improved high speed wireless access.

It will allow the council to widen internet access across the city, ensure that opportunities go online and influence broadband providers to make services more affordable.

Newcastle will be one of ten Super-Connected Cities to benefit from the funding.

Council leader, Coun Nick Forbes, said: “This is magnificent news for Newcastle.

“Reliable ultrafast broadband is vital to attract businesses to Newcastle, and will transform the way that we all work and socialise. It will give us a real competitive advantage with other major European cities."

The infrastructure - up and running by 2015 - will take in key development sites; Central Station, East Pilgrim Street, Stephenson Quarter and Science Central.

Signage for the public will also be installed across the city.