UK Government Invests £1.3 Billion to Improve Broadband Access for 380,000 Rural Locations

Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses are set to benefit from lightning-fast broadband, according to government data.

There is a record £714 million invested in the broadband rollout in 2024, resulting in £1.3 billion in the next generation connection investments.

Nearly 380,000 homes and businesses across the UK will benefit from this year’s contracts alone.

This will allow those to gain access to the fastest internet on the market, enabling economic growth and productivity.

The upgrades will ensure households can download high-definition films in under one minute, stream entertainment seamlessly and conduct online activities across multiple devices simultaneously.

Full fibre broadband will also streamline business operations, fostering local productivity and ensuring long-term growth prospects.

Additionally, the Government has awarded separate contracts to connect up to 800 primary schools in England to provide students and teachers with access to the latest digital technology in education.

Sachin Agrawal, UK Managing Director at Zoho, commented: “Connectivity investment in rural regions is a big boost as it helps unlock local economic growth, contributing to the distribution of wealth throughout the country. By improving connectivity in rural areas across the UK, businesses have more options for office locations, allowing them to move away from busy urban centres and reduce overheads. This both provides cost savings for the business as well as facilitating more flexibility for employees who can make use of the UK’s new Flexible Working Bill.

“Technology plays a crucial role in creating a seamless employee experience regardless of whether staff are working from home or in the office. Unified collaboration tools that enable real-time communication can enable staff to stay connected and work simultaneously on tasks. This allows staff to maintain productivity while enjoying the benefits of a more affordable lifestyle and to be closer to their families. This is only made possible with reliable connectivity.”

Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance, commented: “It’s extremely encouraging to see the government take action in building digital connectivity within rural areas that have suffered with digital exclusion or poor connectivity. It is a necessity to help people and families benefit from online banking, remote education, and healthcare consultations.

At DPA, we hope to see these positive efforts continue to reach a goal of ending digital poverty by 2030 in the UK