Superfast Broadband Coming to Over 8,000 Borough Homes

More than 8,000 homes in Bedford Borough will receive 'superfast broadband' by 2016 as part of a new local broadband project that has successfully secured Government funding.

Bedford Borough Council is working in partnership with Central Bedfordshire Council, Milton Keynes Council, Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and BT Openreach to deliver superfast broadband to homes in the three local authority areas.

The rollout has been drawn up by BT Openreach and will see superfast broadband made available over 8,000 homes in Bedford Borough, in 7 phases until 2016. In addition, the project will see broadband above 2 Megabits per second made available to all homes in the Borough that would otherwise still be getting slower speeds.

The Council will continue to push to bring superfast broadband to homes not included in the superfast rollout by:

• Bidding for a share of the government's £250 million of additional funding for superfast broadband
• Support for Bedford being used as a trial location for new technology to extend superfast broadband access
• Encouraging high broadband take-up as this can generate funds for extending superfast coverage

Lib Dem Mayor of Bedford Borough, Dave Hodgson, said: "This is a major project which will ensure at least basic broadband for all, including superfast broadband to more than 8,000 extra homes. Through the project we have secured over £1million of investment for Bedford Borough and BT's plans are designed to reach as many homes as possible.

"Widening access to broadband in Bedford Borough will help residents and businesses alike and we are working with our local partners, BDUK and BT Openreach to ensure superfast broadband is rolled out as far as possible through this project.

"We are also putting plans in place for the remaining homes to get access to superfast broadband as soon as possible. We are bidding for additional government funding, supporting efforts for innovative technology to be trialled in Bedford Borough."

An online tool is now available for residents of Bedford Borough to see the new plan for introducing superfast broadband. It is available at www.bedford.gov.uk/broadband.

Broadband is classified as 'Superfast' for speeds of at least 24 Megabits per second.