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Funding released for superfast broadband
Monday 7th March 2011, by Daniel King
The government has released the second wave of funding for the UK's superfast broadband network.
Bids are now being invited for a further £50 million of funding as part of the second stage of the national strategy.
However, companies and technologies have yet to be selected for the pilot areas to test roll-out methods as part of the first stage.
Areas in Cumbria, the Highlands and Islands, North Yorkshire and the Golden Valley in Herefordshire were announced as the pilot areas for the scheme, to establish the costs and issues surrounding building a national superfast network.
The locations were selected due to the fact that major internet service providers (ISPs) such as Virgin Media and BT would do not service customers in this area as it is not profitable.
Plans to provide next-generation broadband to rural and hard to reach areas have not been tested thus far, yet the government is pushing ahead with plans for the national network.
As part of the government's pledge to deliver the best superfast broadband in Europe by 2015, the £50 million will be given to local authorities across the country.
Councils can apply for funding via Broadband Delivery UK, part of collaboration between the Department for Business and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
George Osborne, chancellor of the exchequer, said: "This is very much a locally-driven process and we encourage bids from all local people with plans for improving broadband in their local area."
A further 800,000 homes could receive access to next-generation broadband as a result of the funding, according to government estimates.
Projects to introduce faster connection speeds across the UK have so far cost the government £530 million, with four years left until its self-imposed deadline.
Last year the European Union provided funds for a scheme between Cornwall Council and BT to deliver superfast broadband across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
