Suffolk blames Europe for broadband delay

Monday, September 24th 2012
The European Commission is responsible for the delay in Suffolk's broadband rollout, according to the county council.
Suffolk blames Europe for broadband delay
Suffolk County Council (SCC) has blamed the European Commission for the continued delay in delivering faster broadband access to rural communities.

Mark Bee, leader of the local authority, said council chiefs had expected the government scheme to be signed off "well before now" so work on the super-fast broadband rollout could proceed.

"However, there is still this delay with the government money," he was quoted by the East Anglian Daily Times as saying.

"It is now way above the level of the [Department for Culture, Media and Sport] - it is a prime ministerial matter because it involves money and the EU."

The government's Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) framework is being investigated by European officials, who fear the strategy infringes continental rules on state aid.

Doubts have been expressed over the competitiveness of the process, with only BT and Fujitsu approved to bid for BDUK contracts.

BT is set to be appointed as SCC's preferred provider, after Fujitsu confirmed it had not pressed ahead with its own application.

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