Peter Kyle has announced new funding for rural broadband (Image: Getty)
Rural areas across Britain are set to receive a major broadband boost after the Government announced nearly ￡300million in new contracts.
More than 130,000 hard-to-reach homes will finally be connected to ultra-fast gigabit internet speeds as part of Labour’s so-called Plan for Change.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Harry and Meghan's California community plagued by ‘sonic booms' thanks to Elon Musk
8 Comments
Africa's incredible new airport costing ￡1.6bn to build welcoming 14mn people each year
Comments
PIP claimants with musculoskeletal conditions targeted in DWP's new initiative
2 Comments
Keir Starmer could be shamed into humiliating U-turn by Donald Trump
73 Comments
Store closures happening in January include WHSmith and New Look - full list
Comments
The huge new ￡2.4bn mega-project so UK airport can take 14m extra passengers
9 Comments
Fury as DWP mistakenly paid ￡500 million to deceased individuals since 2019
Comments
Donald Trump slams Labour's net zero plan in new diplomatic blow for Keir Starmer
68 Comments
Cornwall could copy Wales with huge change to tourism and holiday homes
40 Comments
Urgent high street warning as retailers suffer blow from 'one of the quietest Christmases'
17 Comments
47 shops set to close every day in aftermath of Body Shop and Carpetright closures
5 Comments
Rachel Reeves predicted to hit UK with more crushing tax rises - including income tax
47 Comments
Tax warning as Rachel Reeves poised for further raids after Labour's disastrous start
91 Comments
Misery on 'road from hell' finally set to end after 23 years and staggering ￡2bn upgrade
1 Comments
Bank branch deserts are leaving elderly behind - and now we have the proof
19 Comments
UK leads multi-national force to counter Putin's secret underwater plan to inflict chaos
15 Comments
Urgent warning for anyone planning to use their phone abroad in 2025
8 Comments
Spain 'chaos' erupts as Mallorca hits back over strict new tourist rules
12 Comments
Struggling pubs and restaurants face new hammer blow from Rachel Reeves
27 Comments
Does Rachel Reeves hate the British? Her latest looming disaster suggests she does
98 Comments
Harry and Meghan's California community plagued by ‘sonic booms' thanks to Elon Musk
8 Comments
Africa's incredible new airport costing ￡1.6bn to build welcoming 14mn people each year
Comments
PIP claimants with musculoskeletal conditions targeted in DWP's new initiative
2 Comments
Keir Starmer could be shamed into humiliating U-turn by Donald Trump
73 Comments
Store closures happening in January include WHSmith and New Look - full list
Comments
The huge new ￡2.4bn mega-project so UK airport can take 14m extra passengers
9 Comments
Fury as DWP mistakenly paid ￡500 million to deceased individuals since 2019
Comments
Donald Trump slams Labour's net zero plan in new diplomatic blow for Keir Starmer
68 Comments
Cornwall could copy Wales with huge change to tourism and holiday homes
40 Comments
Urgent high street warning as retailers suffer blow from 'one of the quietest Christmases'
17 Comments
47 shops set to close every day in aftermath of Body Shop and Carpetright closures
5 Comments
Rachel Reeves predicted to hit UK with more crushing tax rises - including income tax
47 Comments
Tax warning as Rachel Reeves poised for further raids after Labour's disastrous start
91 Comments
Misery on 'road from hell' finally set to end after 23 years and staggering ￡2bn upgrade
1 Comments
Bank branch deserts are leaving elderly behind - and now we have the proof
19 Comments
UK leads multi-national force to counter Putin's secret underwater plan to inflict chaos
15 Comments
Urgent warning for anyone planning to use their phone abroad in 2025
8 Comments
Spain 'chaos' erupts as Mallorca hits back over strict new tourist rules
12 Comments
Struggling pubs and restaurants face new hammer blow from Rachel Reeves
27 Comments
Does Rachel Reeves hate the British? Her latest looming disaster suggests she does
98 Comments
Harry and Meghan's California community plagued by ‘sonic booms' thanks to Elon Musk
8 Comments
Africa's incredible new airport costing ￡1.6bn to build welcoming 14mn people each year
Comments
PIP claimants with musculoskeletal conditions targeted in DWP's new initiative
2 Comments
Keir Starmer could be shamed into humiliating U-turn by Donald Trump
73 Comments
Store closures happening in January include WHSmith and New Look - full list
Comments
The huge new ￡2.4bn mega-project so UK airport can take 14m extra passengers
9 Comments
Fury as DWP mistakenly paid ￡500 million to deceased individuals since 2019
Comments
The boost for hard-pressed areas comes after the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology confirmed four new contracts worth over ￡289million, signed by the Government and Openreach.
Areas set to benefit include the Dee Valley, Anglesey in Wales, the Shropshire Hills, Herefordshire, Devon, Somerset, Essex, the North East, and Worcestershire.
READ MORE: Express campaign victory as hundreds of thousands get ￡800m broadband boost
The Government hopes faster broadband speeds will help the NHS by enabling more patients to have consultations and monitoring appointments at home, freeing up space in hospitals and GP surgeries.
It could also help tackle loneliness by making it easier for friends and relatives to contact each other via video calls.
Science Secretary Peter Kyle told the Daily Express: “There is so much our modern digital world has to offer – from online healthcare to keeping in touch with friends and family – but a lack of fast and reliable broadband has excluded people from so many of these benefits.
“This is why, since coming into office, I have made it my priority to harness the power of digital innovation to shrink existing divides across our society, so no matter where you live you can benefit from what the online world has to offer.
“As part of this Government’s Plan for Change, we are helping to plug some of these gaps and getting one step closer to realising our ambition to achieve full gigabit coverage by 2030.”
Don't miss...
Gigaclear launches mega cheap broadband offer that beats Sky price [LATEST]
Rural areas of Britain set for new broadband boost in another win for Express [LATEST]
Beautiful UK villages with internet speeds so slow it’s like living in a desert [LATEST]
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Project Gigabit is delivering full fiber broadband for rural Brits (Image: Getty)
Trending
Today’s ￡289million-worth of new contracts come on top of the ￡800million agreement signed with Openreach last August, which connected 97,000 premises up to the country’s growing gigabit internet network.
Project Gigabit is now delivering ultrafast speeds to over 1.1million hard-to-reach premises.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Harry and Meghan's California community plagued by ‘sonic booms' thanks to Elon Musk
8 Comments
Africa's incredible new airport costing ￡1.6bn to build welcoming 14mn people each year
Comments
PIP claimants with musculoskeletal conditions targeted in DWP's new initiative
2 Comments
Keir Starmer could be shamed into humiliating U-turn by Donald Trump
73 Comments
Store closures happening in January include WHSmith and New Look - full list
Comments
The huge new ￡2.4bn mega-project so UK airport can take 14m extra passengers
9 Comments
Fury as DWP mistakenly paid ￡500 million to deceased individuals since 2019
Comments
Donald Trump slams Labour's net zero plan in new diplomatic blow for Keir Starmer
68 Comments
Cornwall could copy Wales with huge change to tourism and holiday homes
40 Comments
Urgent high street warning as retailers suffer blow from 'one of the quietest Christmases'
17 Comments
47 shops set to close every day in aftermath of Body Shop and Carpetright closures
5 Comments
Rachel Reeves predicted to hit UK with more crushing tax rises - including income tax
47 Comments
Tax warning as Rachel Reeves poised for further raids after Labour's disastrous start
91 Comments
Misery on 'road from hell' finally set to end after 23 years and staggering ￡2bn upgrade
1 Comments
Bank branch deserts are leaving elderly behind - and now we have the proof
19 Comments
UK leads multi-national force to counter Putin's secret underwater plan to inflict chaos
15 Comments
Urgent warning for anyone planning to use their phone abroad in 2025
8 Comments
Spain 'chaos' erupts as Mallorca hits back over strict new tourist rules
12 Comments
Struggling pubs and restaurants face new hammer blow from Rachel Reeves
27 Comments
Does Rachel Reeves hate the British? Her latest looming disaster suggests she does
98 Comments
Harry and Meghan's California community plagued by ‘sonic booms' thanks to Elon Musk
8 Comments
Africa's incredible new airport costing ￡1.6bn to build welcoming 14mn people each year
Comments
PIP claimants with musculoskeletal conditions targeted in DWP's new initiative
2 Comments
Keir Starmer could be shamed into humiliating U-turn by Donald Trump
73 Comments
Store closures happening in January include WHSmith and New Look - full list
Comments
The huge new ￡2.4bn mega-project so UK airport can take 14m extra passengers
9 Comments
Fury as DWP mistakenly paid ￡500 million to deceased individuals since 2019
Comments
Donald Trump slams Labour's net zero plan in new diplomatic blow for Keir Starmer
68 Comments
Cornwall could copy Wales with huge change to tourism and holiday homes
40 Comments
Urgent high street warning as retailers suffer blow from 'one of the quietest Christmases'
17 Comments
47 shops set to close every day in aftermath of Body Shop and Carpetright closures
5 Comments
Rachel Reeves predicted to hit UK with more crushing tax rises - including income tax
47 Comments
Tax warning as Rachel Reeves poised for further raids after Labour's disastrous start
91 Comments
Misery on 'road from hell' finally set to end after 23 years and staggering ￡2bn upgrade
1 Comments
Bank branch deserts are leaving elderly behind - and now we have the proof
19 Comments
UK leads multi-national force to counter Putin's secret underwater plan to inflict chaos
15 Comments
Urgent warning for anyone planning to use their phone abroad in 2025
8 Comments
Spain 'chaos' erupts as Mallorca hits back over strict new tourist rules
12 Comments
Struggling pubs and restaurants face new hammer blow from Rachel Reeves
27 Comments
Does Rachel Reeves hate the British? Her latest looming disaster suggests she does
98 Comments
Harry and Meghan's California community plagued by ‘sonic booms' thanks to Elon Musk
8 Comments
Africa's incredible new airport costing ￡1.6bn to build welcoming 14mn people each year
Comments
PIP claimants with musculoskeletal conditions targeted in DWP's new initiative
2 Comments
Keir Starmer could be shamed into humiliating U-turn by Donald Trump
73 Comments
Store closures happening in January include WHSmith and New Look - full list
Comments
The huge new ￡2.4bn mega-project so UK airport can take 14m extra passengers
9 Comments
Fury as DWP mistakenly paid ￡500 million to deceased individuals since 2019
Comments
Openreach chief executive Clive Selley said: “Our new full fibre broadband network now reaches more than half of all properties in the UK, and we’re confident we can reach as many as 30million premises by the end of the decade, assuming the right regulatory and investment conditions exist.
“This is a British infrastructure success story which experts say will boost productivity by ￡73billion and bring a raft of social and environmental benefits for the country.
“We believe that everyone deserves access to fast and reliable broadband, and we’re proud that this partnership will help extend our ultra-fast, ultra-reliable network to areas that would otherwise be left behind by the private sector.”