Broadband roll out to boost Peak businesses

New high-speed fibre broadband is set to boost business and prospects in the Peak District as part of an on-going countywide, multi-million pound roll-out.
FASTER FUTURE: Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Anne Western (left), and Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Transport with Bill Murphy, BT Managing Director, Next Generation Access.FASTER FUTURE: Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Anne Western (left), and Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Transport with Bill Murphy, BT Managing Director, Next Generation Access.
FASTER FUTURE: Derbyshire County Council Leader Councillor Anne Western (left), and Councillor Joan Dixon, Derbyshire County Council Cabinet Member for Jobs, Economy and Transport with Bill Murphy, BT Managing Director, Next Generation Access.

More than 6,000 businesses and homes in Derbyshire are now able to sign up and connect thanks to the Derbyshire County Council-led £26.67 million Digital Derbyshire project.

And over the coming months further properties will benefit in areas of Darley Dale, Bakewell and Ambergate with an upgrade to the Grindleford Exchange making fibre broadband available to more than 1,600 properties in Hathersage, Grindleford and Hope Valley by the autumn.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Councillor Joan Dixon, cabinet member for jobs, economy and transport, said: “Whether it’s for business, shopping, education or socialising, the internet plays such a huge part of daily life. That’s why we’re driving this project to extend access to fibre broadband to more than 95per cent of Derbyshire’s businesses and residents by the end of 2016. This will open up endless business and leisure opportunities and boost our rural areas, support economic growth and allow communities to continue to thrive.”

Digital Derbyshire, which launched in April, is working in partnership with BT as part of a Government rollout which has reached over one million homes and businesses nationwide.

Bill Murphy, of BT, said: “The Digital Derbyshire programme is making strong progress. This exciting technology is providing a major boost for local households and businesses whether they are using it to work more efficiently and find new customers or for online learning and leisure.”

BT is contributing £12.87m to the project, the council is contributing £4.9m and a further £7.4m is coming from the Government’s Broadband Delivery UK funds with £2.5m from the European Regional Development Fund.

Sajid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said superfast speeds are boosting profits.