Enterprise M3 creates £200k super-fast broadband fund
A public-private partnership has established a £200,000 fund designed to help Surrey and Hampshire businesses unable to access fibre optic broadband.
Enterprise M3 unveiled the initiative in a bid to bring improved connectivity to the ten per cent or so of local firms that are set to miss out on the benefits of the counties' super-fast broadband deals with BT.
Due to be carried out over the next three years, the BT projects will seek to extend high-speed fibre broadband access to at least 90 per cent of homes and businesses in Surrey and Hampshire.
John Jervoise, chairman of Enterprise M3, confirmed plans for the rural broadband fund at a meeting organised in collaboration with the Country Land and Business Association.
Referring to the BT agreements, he said: "Both these deals mean that most businesses in the Enterprise M3 area will soon have access to the fast internet speeds that are vital to their ability to compete and grow."
However, he noted that these initiatives will still leave many businesses without suitable broadband, which is where the new fund aims to help out.