Rural areas to realise advantages of superfast broadband with funding boost

Investment announced for faster internet connections for rural areas

The Nationwide Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) will provide vouchers worth up to £3,000 for a small or medium sized business or £500 to residents to help with the costs of connecting to full fibre broadband.

The CLA represents landowners, farmers and rural businesses and has been calling for investment in schemes such as this to help narrow the rural-urban digital divide.

CLA Senior Economist Dr Charles Trotman said: “Poor broadband remains one of the biggest barriers to rural economic growth. The CLA called for schemes such as the gigabit voucher to meet the connectivity needs of rural communities so we are pleased the investment is being made on a national scale.

“The ability of rural businesses and homes to pool vouchers will be essential in ensuring that the momentum towards universal connectivity is maintained. When used together with other schemes, such as Openreach’s Community Fibre Partnership, hard to reach rural areas will finally realise the advantages of superfast broadband.”