£27m broadband boost for Derbyshire

Business leaders and politicians have welcomed a planned £50m investment in superfast broadband across Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

Derbyshire County Council has secured £27.7m after signing a contract with BT to roll-out high-speed broadband to 88,000 homes and businesses.

And Nottinghamshire County Council has announced a similar £20m project with BT.

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The two schemes will ensure the technology serves more than 95 per cent of residential and commercial properties in each county by 2016.

Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive George Cowcher said: “This significant extra broadband funding for Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire is welcome news for businesses and consumers.

“Having high-speed broadband is absolutely crucial to the future development, growth and success of our businesses.

Superfast broadband will benefit everyone in the region and will be a major selling point for businesses and organisations looking to relocate to Derbyshire or Nottinghamshire.”

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High Peak MP Andrew Bingham added: “This is fantastic news for people in the High Peak who currently have to struggle with slow internet speeds, which in some cases is almost to the point of being unusable.

“Although it may be another two years before super-fast broadband is deployed in some areas, the fact that the contract has now been signed with BT is a clear sign of progress, and I’m pleased to have played an active part in pushing for this in the High Peak.”