Birmingham gets £10m slice of broadband cash

Birmingham City Council has responded to news that it will receive £10million from the Governement to develop ultrafast broadband in the city…

Cllr James McKay, Cabinet Member for a Green, Safe and Smart city at Birmingham City Council, said: “We are delighted that the Secretary of State for  Culture, Media and Sport has approved our bid for £10 million for the delivery of ultrafast broadband in Birmingham.

Cllr James McKay

Cllr James McKay

“This announcement enables Birmingham  to continue with its vanguard approach to digital infrastructure, recognising, as we do, the critical importance of high quality digital connectivity to the city if we are to retain and attract the most sought after, high value businesses.

“This funding will see key areas of Birmingham benefiting from  the best digital infrastructure to be found anywhere; capable of delivering some of the fastest broadband speeds available today at prices that are affordable. Birmingham will be making a generational step change by investing in world class connectivity in partnership with a telecommunications organisation.

“Businesses and residents in  Digbeth, Eastside and The Jewellery Quarter will be the first to benefit from this connectivity with the new Greater Birmingham and Solihull Enterprise Zone being located right at the heart of the area. We will then look to extend the coverage into other areas of the city where businesses feel they are currently poorly served.

“Birmingham  has been at the forefront of thedebate for ultrafast, fibre optic based services and recognises the importance it has in supporting economic growth, particularly amongst our flourishing SMEs in the creative and digital media sectors.

“We have lobbied hard on this agenda and has recently secured a landmark State Aid approval decision from The European Commission;  becoming the first city in Europe to receive approval to invest public funding for ultrafast broadband in a densely populated urban area.”

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