Great news this week from the Association of South Essex Local Authorities (ASELA), which includes Brentwood Borough Council, for those of us still struggling to get faster broadband speeds - a successful bid to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport means £4.5 million being made available to deliver improved connectivity to 214 sites in the South Essex corridor, including locations in Basildon, Brentwood, Castle Point, Rochford and Thurrock.
The money will help take gigabit speed broadband to rural and hard-to-reach areas of South Essex, with the expectation that this leads to broadband providers (ISPs) creating additional connections to local homes and businesses.
The funding will see the extension of gigabit fibre connectivity to a number of rural public sector sites within the corridor and in doing so will allow the private sector to build from this connectivity and supply homes and businesses in the vicinity.
Cllr Louise McKinlay, Leader of Brentwood Borough Council and Chair of ASELA, said: “It is fantastic news that collectively we have secured funding that will have a huge impact on the whole of south Essex and start to improve local and regional infrastructure across the area. The power of connectivity is continuing to shape the way we work, live and play, and so it is very important that we continue to lead and innovate in the future.
“Whilst ASELA has only been formed for a short time, the work that has already taken place shows the very positive impact that collaborative working and talking across district and borough boundaries can have across our region.”
Minister for Digital, Margot James, said: "We're building a Britain that's fit for the future, and our plans for a national full fibre broadband network underpin our modern Industrial Strategy. This £4.5 boost for gigabit speeds in South Essex will build on the tremendous work already being done by Superfast Essex and I congratulate ASELA on their successful bid."