Mayor Announces New Broadband Project Will Extend Superfast Access to Another 5,500 Homes and Businesses

- Extra Council funding had resulted in a deal to take Bedford Borough Superfast coverage to over 96% of premises

- Superfast access will be extended to villages across all parts of Bedford Borough, following the deal struck between the Council, partner authorities, Government and BT

- The Council will continue to press for 100% coverage for Bedford Borough as soon as possible

Mayor Dave Hodgson has announced that a further 5,500 rural homes and businesses are to gain access to Superfast broadband under the latest contract agreed between Bedford Borough Council and its partners and BT.

The contract to deliver the Superfast extension project was topped up by additional council funding in order to maximise the benefits for local households from this latest phase in the drive to expand Superfast coverage. As a result, over 96% of premises in the Borough will have Superfast access by the end of the project, which begins as soon as the 2016 Rural Broadband Plan is completed. The coverage across the Borough will go beyond the Government's national target, which is marked at 90% coverage.

The latest project will see superfast coverage extended to villages in all parts of the borough, focusing particularly on households and businesses. Designed by BT, the delivery plan will deliver Superfast Broadband as soon as possible and was agreed jointly by Bedford Borough, Central Bedfordshire and Milton Keynes Councils and the Government's broadband arm, BDUK.

Commenting, Mayor Dave Hodgson said: "Broadband is a commercial service and the Council is not a broadband provider, but we have stepped in to bring forward Superfast access for rural communities because the alternative is simply unacceptable for many thousands of rural households. Broadband providers' inadequate service is the number one issue raised with me by rural residents, so we're pleased to be taking these projects above and beyond the targets set by government and maximising the benefits for local households.

We will work to ensure this contract is delivered in full, with Superfast access expanded to over 96% of households. Meanwhile, we will continue to press for Superfast access to be extended to all households as soon as possible."

A map and postcode checker giving initial indications of phasing and coverage will be available to view on the Borough Council's broadband web page (www.bedford.gov.uk/broadband).