Jeremy Hunt praises North Yorkshire super-fast broadband funding

Culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has said an "important step" has been taken towards rolling out fibre optic broadband and other forms of super-fast access in North Yorkshire.

The county has been awarded up to £16.4 million by Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) in order to bring high-speed internet connections to every home and business in the area by 2017.

Match-funding is now being sought by NYnet, the county council's broadband company, potentially taking the total investment to between £25 million and £30 million.

Responding to the news, Mr Hunt commented: "This pilot has made real progress and the funding allocation marks an important step in taking super-fast broadband to the homes and businesses of North Yorkshire."

The county was one of four UK locations chosen by BDUK to trial next-generation internet technology, along with Scotland's Highlands and Islands, Herefordshire and Cumbria.

A procurement process for the broadband rollout has already been launched and is due to be completed by next June.