Govt approves Northants fibre broadband project

The government has approved a scheme to roll out fibre optic broadband to every home and business in Northamptonshire over the next six years.

Under the county council's local broadband plan, 90 per cent of properties in the area will be connected to super-fast services by the end of 2015, with all remaining premises due to be hooked up two years later.

Some £4.08 million has been committed to the scheme by the government in a bid to encourage private sector telecoms firms to invest in Northamptonshire's broadband infrastructure.

Andre Gonzalez De Savage, county council cabinet member for infrastructure and public protection, said: "In the increasingly competitive global economy it is essential that super-fast broadband is widely available."

Broadband speed is often a "key priority" for people looking to relocate, he added.

Ofcom figures published earlier this year show 59 per cent of properties in Northamptonshire are able to access super-fast connectivity, while total broadband take-up stands at 71 per cent.