The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
More than 61,500 properties can now access superfast broadband thanks to a project to upgrade the county’s internet access.
More homes than ever can now access higher speed internet connections thanks to the onlincolnshire project, led by Lincolnshire County Council and BT.
Thousands of homes have been connected over the past 14 months, with Swineshead one of the latest areas to benefit.
The improvements have been made possible thanks to funding from local councils, BT, the Government and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Coun Richard Davie, executive member for IT, said: “Better broadband brings a wealth of opportunities to both businesses and residents, and we’re determined Lincolnshire won’t miss out.
“We’re now bringing faster broadband to more than 1,000 Lincolnshire properties a week, which is a fantastic achievement.
“To get better speeds, people in these upgraded areas should contact their broadband provider to check for availability and upgrade their contract.”
Building upon the work of the private sector, the ambitious project remains on target to extend the availability of superfast broadband to at least 89 per cent of all properties by 2016.
Additionally, for the first time ever, standard broadband of at least 2Mbps should be available everywhere in Lincolnshire.
The council is also planning a second phase of improvements that aims to extend superfast coverage to 95 per cent by the end of 2017.
As the improvements are rolled out across the county, the council is also working hard to make sure local businesses grasp the new opportunities.
Since 2011, onlincolnshire has been providing a wide range of support to over 500 county businesses, helping them get the most out of superfast speeds and the latest digital technology.
Building on this success, new online support is now being developed, with factsheets, how-to guides and videos, encouraging firms to get online and grow their business through digital technology.
A total of £176,000 has been secured for this support project from the Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s Digital Capability Challenge Fund, the ERDF and the county council.
Businesses can also ask for extra help or attend events which will demonstrate the tools and support available.
Coun Davie added: “Businesses in the more remote rural areas are hard to reach, both physically and virtually, so it’s absolutely vital for us to encourage effective use of the internet.
“This new online support will enable novices to get some basic information without having to book onto a workshop or a full support programme.
“And they can learn remotely at a time of their choosing – a crucial benefit in a very rural economy.
“This will help to build their confidence and hopefully encourage them to take part in a more in-depth digital support programme.”
To find out more about all the support onlincolnshire has to offer your business, visit www.onlincolnshire.org, Freephone 0300 808 0120 or email onlincolnshire@lincs-chamber.co.uk.
