Broadband – final 5% of most remote UK areas tackled

A new £10 million fund is to be made available to alternative technology providers who can help superfast broadband reach Britain’s most remote communities, culture secretary, Maria Miller, announced today.

Potential technologies that could be piloted under the scheme include:

• Using 4G mobile signal to deliver “fixed wireless” superfast broadband.
• Using fibre direct to premises.
• Taking fibre from broadband cabinets to a distribution point further down the network, increasing speeds by reducing the reliance on copper.
• Satellite technology.

The fund will open on 17th March 2014 and today’s announcement coincides with the appointment of a new chief executive of the Broadband Delivery programme, Chris Townsend, who helped to deliver the London 2012 Olympic Games.