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Northumberland Council Fibre Upgrade
Northumberland County Council partners with BT for its £12million full-fibre upgrade scheme.
04:58 21 July 2020
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport has approved The North of Tyne Combined Authority's bid for a £12million investment under its Local Full Fibre Networks Programme. The scheme will see BT rolling out fibre connections to connect public buildings across Northumberland county.
In partnership with Openreach, BT will deploy the full fibre network that will improve the speed and reliability of the digital connectivity of 271 public sector sites. The scheme, which was formally approved in March, is expected to be completed by early 2022.
Sarah Walker, director for enterprise in the North of England, said: "We are pleased to be supporting Northumberland County Council's digital ambitions and it is among the leading areas in the UK to take advantage of the opportunities full fibre networks will provide. Digital technology is transforming every element of the way we live. In a world where everyday life and work increasingly depend on technology, digital skills can be the difference between getting ahead, or being left behind."
Commenting on the news, Cllr Nick Oliver, Cabinet Member for corporate resources, said: "This is an exciting upgrade to our infrastructure in the county, providing rural Northumberland with better connectivity than many city centres. Work has already begun to bring high-speed, affordable and reliable connectivity to our businesses and residents, which is crucial in maintaining our economic competitiveness and achieving social inclusion, now more than ever."