Last year, the Chancellor announced more than £1bn of funding to
stimulate further and faster roll-out of full fibre networks,
alongside investment to take forward the next generation of
mobile connectivity in all areas of the UK. As part of this,
Government has now launched a £190m Local Full Fibre Network
(LFFN) Challenge Fund to stimulate commercial investment in full
fibre networks across the whole of the UK, including rural and
urban locations, by demonstrating approaches that encourage
additional private investment and by making sustainable
commercial deployments viable.
Minister for Digital, said:
World class connectivity is increasingly essential to people at
work and at home. It’s vital to ensure the UK’s future
competitiveness in the global market and our ability to attract
investment. Full fibre is fundamental for fashioning a Britain
fit for the future.
The projects will enable gigabit capable connections to key
public buildings and businesses, with the expectation that this
leads to broadband providers creating additional connections to
local homes and businesses.
Government is now encouraging a broad range of local bodies -
Local Authorities, Combined Authorities, Local Enterprise
Partnerships as well other local public / government bodies such
as health, education or transport bodies, to apply to the fund.
This programme comes as part of the government’s expanded £31
billion National Productivity Investment Fund aimed at improving
productivity, which is key to raising living standards. This fund
has already earmarked £740 million specifically for improving
Britain’s digital infrastructure, ensuring the UK is match-fit
for the future.
Further information, and details on how to apply for funding is
available online
