Need advice? Call our experts free on
0800 090 1342
11 ISPs interested in Digital Durham high-speed broadband project
The initiative is aiming to extend super-fast broadband access to 90 per cent of properties.
According to the local authority, 11 telecoms firms have put their names forward for the contract and are now set to meet with officials at DCC, which has been allocated £7.79 million of government funding to deliver its Digital Durham project.
In addition to the money granted by the Conservative-led coalition, the council has set aside £2 million from its own budget to fund the programme of broadband deployments.
Once the project is completed, it is expected that broadband access in County Durham will be universal, while 90 per cent of homes and businesses will be connected to super-fast services.
Without the public sector funding, estimates suggest that only 40 per cent of properties in the area would be included in next-generation broadband rollouts, leaving the majority of employers and householders at a disadvantage.
Broadband Delivery UK announced the £7.79 million allocation last month, but DCC still has to put management arrangements in place and gain final approval for its plans.
The council's cabinet will be presented with a full progress report covering all the work carried out on the project to date in a briefing at County Hall tomorrow (September 22nd 2011).
Alan Napier, cabinet member for resources, said the local authority is pleased to have received such a high level of interest in the Digital Durham initiative from ISPs and other important partners.
Cabinet member for regeneration and economic development Neil Foster added: "We are now in the process of signing up local broadband champions to support the Digital Durham programme, presentations are being made to area action partnership meetings and we are engaging with local businesses."
The authority is aiming to identify levels of demand for high-speed broadband by urging residents and businesses to 'like' Digital Durham on Facebook and follow @DigitalDurham on Twitter.