Broadband rollout in Derbyshire 'will not be ready by 2015'

The completion date of a super-fast broadband rollout in Derbyshire looks uncertain at the moment.

Derbyshire County Council had been awarded more than £7 million by the government through its Broadband Delivery UK programme.

This was put towards a £15 million scheme to improve web connectivity for approximately 105,000 homes and businesses in the county by 2015.

However, the council has admitted that delays beyond its control, including hold-ups at European level, means it is not on course to meet its target. No revised date has yet been confirmed, so it could be several more years until the work is completed.

Head of the Digital Derbyshire programme Natalie Ward commented: "It is looking impossible to get it done by 2015.

"We are currently seeking a commercial partner to deliver the programme and hope to have a contract signed by the end of the summer."

Ms Ward stated that when this process is completed, surveys will be carried out in the region to ascertain how resources and engineers should be mobilised.

She added that rolling out super-fast broadband to 105,000 homes and businesses across the county is a "big project".