Notts receives £2.7m funding boost for fibre broadband rollout

Nottinghamshire's fibre optic broadband plans have received a substantial boost after the county council secured an additional £2.7 million of investment from the European Regional Development Fund.

Taking the overall public investment in the broadband scheme to £10.5 million, the cash means that the county is now likely to exceed the government's target of super-fast speeds for 90 per cent of properties by the end of 2015.

The county council is halfway through the procurement phase, with two firms said to be battling it out to secure the contract. The authority plans to announce the winner soon.

Work on the rollout is expected to start later this year, prioritising areas with the highest concentration of businesses.

By targeting employers, the project looks set to boost the economy and create new jobs, while the improved infrastructure will also benefit residents in these locations.

Diana Meale, Chair of the Economic Development Committee at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "Being a better connected county is critical to our plans for economic growth and the creation of new jobs for Nottinghamshire residents."