Need advice? Call our experts free on
0800 090 1342
Hampshire upbeat on future broadband funding
The county missed out in Broadband Delivery UK's latest round of funding.
Some 18 local authorities tabled bids to be considered for financial support from the government to improve existing broadband services, with Devon and Somerset, Norfolk and Wiltshire last week named as the successful applicants.
Despite being overlooked by BDUK on this occasion, leader of HCC Ken Thornber was philosophical about the decision, acknowledging that the four counties chosen for the funding had the greatest need.
"Whilst we are disappointed not to have been included, we recognise that these regions have even more rural and sparsely populated areas than Hampshire," he told the Basingstoke Observer.
Mr Thornber went on to express confidence that Hampshire's bid for faster business and home internet services will eventually claim a share of the government's broadband cash pot, which stands at £530 million over the current parliament.
"We will be having further meetings with BDUK in June and expect that our proposals will secure funding in the next few months," the council chief explained.
HCC has been upbeat about its prospects, insisting it received "positive and encouraging feedback" from the government regarding its proposals, which were described as "innovative".
According to the local authority, almost 7,000 businesses and approximately 114,000 households across the county are currently stuck with a slow broadband connection and could benefit from the council's improvement plans.
However, without the support of public funding as an incentive, the private sector will bypass rural parts of Hampshire and leave 20 per cent of telephone exchanges with slow or non-existent broadband.
The broadband strategy is just one part of the council's Open for Business initiative, which aims to boost the economy, secure long-term value for money and deliver efficiency savings at HCC.