31 schools in rural areas amongst the first to benefit from £200 million rollout of full fibre broadband
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The starting gun has been fired on a programme to rollout
gigabit-capable full fibre broadband to the most rural and remote
locations in the UK, Digital Secretary Jeremy Wright announced
today. Last summer, Government identified that approximately 10 per
cent of UK premises, largely in rural and remote areas, would be
unlikely to receive gigabit-capable connections
commercially...Request free trial
The starting gun has been fired on a programme to rollout gigabit-capable full fibre broadband to the most rural and remote locations in the UK, Digital Secretary Jeremy Wright announced today. Last summer, Government identified that approximately 10 per cent of UK premises, largely in rural and remote areas, would be unlikely to receive gigabit-capable connections commercially by 2033. An “Outside In” approach is being taken to make sure rural areas are not disadvantaged in the race for full fibre broadband. This new approach will help ensure that the identified 10 per cent of premises are reached at the same time as the commercial roll out happens across the UK. The Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) programme, launched today, is the first step of this approach. DCMS Secretary of State Jeremy Wright said:
RGC is a two year, £200 million UK-wide programme focused on rural areas. Government has initially prioritised sites in Cornwall, Cumbria, Northumberland and Pembrokeshire. Additional sites in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and the rest of England will be announced in the coming months. The RGC Programme will trial a model connecting local hubs* in rural areas, starting with primary schools. Working with the Department for Education, DCMS has identified the first 31 schools eligible for a connection under the scheme. These new speeds will enable whole classes to simultaneously surf the internet on tablets as part of structured lessons, and gives schools easier access to online training and educational learning. Access to cloud services not only means savings as staff go paperless, but will also allow the decommissioning of the school’s local servers to reduce hardware, maintenance and IT support costs. Other public buildings will then be added throughout the course of the programme, for example health sites and community halls. Education Secretary Damian Hinds said:
The RGC programme also has a rural gigabit broadband voucher component, offering up to £3,500 for small businesses and up to £1,500 for residents. This will be offered to encourage greater take-up of gigabit-capable connectivity to residents and businesses in rural areas. There will also be opportunities to explore other ways of rolling out gigabit capable connectivity in rural and hard-to-reach areas using the Outside in approach. The funding for the scheme comes from the Government’s National Infrastructure Productivity Fund (NPIF). The NPIF is designed to bolster UK productivity, which is crucial to raising living standards. Through the NPIF, the government is investing in the vital infrastructure needed to make it easier for people to connect with others, and work remotely and flexibly. The Exchequer Secretary Robert Jenrick said:
The RGC programme will complement other BDUK Programmes, such as Superfast Broadband and Local Full Fibre Networks, but will not overlap with areas where a gigabit-capable solution is already available or will be delivered through these existing interventions. Rural Affairs Minister Lord Gardiner said:
Notes to Editors
There are now three programmes delivering full fibre in the UK - Rural Gigabit Connectivity (RGC) programme, Local Full Fibre Networks and Superfast Broadband. These will now all be aligned under one overarching programme called ‘The UK Fibre Programme’. Broadband Delivery UK has now been renamed Building Digital UK, although the BDUK moniker remains the same. How the RGC delivery process will workOnce potential Hub sites have been identified, the sites will be filtered against the Programme’s eligibility criteria to confirm which sites are eligible for funding. The eligibility criteria will take into account a number of factors, including rurality, funding considerations, state aid compliance, existing interventions (commercial or otherwise), value for money and deliverability within timescales of the Programme. Once this assessment has taken place, BDUK and the strategic partner will work through an assurance process. If approved, this will result in BDUK committing funding, and the organisation entering into an agreement with a supplier to deliver the Hub upgrades. List of first 31 Schools identified as eligible for a Gigabit capable connection Blisland Primary Academy Cornwall Braddock C of E Primary School Cornwall Calstock Community Primary School Cornwall Darite Primary Academy Cornwall Delaware Primary Academy Cornwall Grade-Ruan C of E School Cornwall Halwin School Cornwall Mevagissey Community Primary School Cornwall Sithney Community Primary School Cornwall St Erme with Trispen Community Primary School Cornwall St Kew Atlantic Centre of Excellence Academy Cornwall Madron Daniel (previously St Maddern’s) C of E School Cornwall St Mellion C of E Voluntary Aided School Cornwall St Mewan Community Primary School Cornwall St Winnow C of E School Cornwall Trannack Primary School Cornwall Treverbyn Academy Cornwall Trythall Community Primary School Cornwall Wendron C of E Primary School Cornwall Werrington Community Primary School Cornwall Eaglesfield Paddle CE Primary School Cumbria Holme St Cuthbert Primary School Cumbria Rosley C of E School Cumbria Acomb First School Northumberland Cambo First School Northumberland Cambois Primary School Northumberland Ellingham C of E Aided Primary School Northumberland New Hartley First School Northumberland St Michael’s C of E Primary School Northumberland Tweedmouth Prior Park First School Northumberland Ysgol Llanychllwydog Wales |