WightFibre Allocated £9m For Rural Broadband Roll-Out

Saturday, 5 March 2022 06:00

By Oliver Dyer @olidyer

WightFibre has been allocated an additional £9 million in Government funding.

The cash, from Building Digital UK (BDUK), part of the Department for Digital, Media and Sport (DCMS), is to go towards its Gigabit Island Project.

The funding, worth up to £1,500 for homes and £3,500 for businesses, is available from the BDUK Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme.

The vouchers help to cover the costs of installing gigabit broadband to people’s doorsteps. They're paid to WightFibre when a home or business is connected.

John Irvine, CEO of WightFibre, said:

“This is great news for the Isle of Wight. WightFibre’s world- class, full-fibre network is delivering some of the best broadband in the world to the Island.

"This will set the Island apart for decades to come. This BDUK voucher funding will allow us to reach even more premises to ensure no-one is left behind.”

WightFibre says its rollout will reach 60,000 homes by the end of 2022, with the remainder due to be completed by the end of 2023.

Other homes which require landowner permission, for example private unadopted roads, may take longer if permission is not forthcoming.

Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet member for Regeneration, Business Development and Tourism, Isle of Wight Council also welcomed the news:

“WightFibre’s Gigabit Island Project is an important part of the Isle of Wight Council’s Digital Island Strategy which aims to see as many premises as possible on the Island receive access to gigabit capable broadband.

"This is important for the Island’s digital economy, will make the Island more attractive for digital businesses and will aid the Council’s Regeneration programme”.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez said:

“Our voucher scheme is energising broadband firms such as Wightfibre to build ultra high-speed internet infrastructure in the most hard-to-reach parts of the Isle of Wight.

"There is up to £9 million worth of vouchers available for homes and businesses on the Island and I’d encourage anyone looking for a broadband boost to apply.”

Areas set to benefit from the voucher funding include:

Ventnor
Seaview
St Helens
Bembridge
Shalfleet
Yarmouth
Freshwater
Totland
Mottistone
Brightstone
Chale
Chale Green
Niton
Whitwell
Wroxall
Rookley
Newchurch
Winford
Alverstone Garden Village
Havenstreet

WightFibre will inform households if they are eligible for the voucher scheme at the time they order service from WightFibre.

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WightFibre Allocated £9m For Rural Broadband Roll-Out

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