Dame Caroline Dinenage has welcomed the news that just under 70% of homes and businesses across the South East region will now have access to rapid and reliable internet.
This represents a meteoric rise since Prime Minister Boris Johnson took office in 2019 when gigabit coverage stood at just 7 per cent. This is demonstrating levelling up in action with a total of nearly 20 million premises connected since 2019, and turbocharged progress by industry towards the government’s target of 85 per cent coverage by 2025.
In the last five months alone, one million premises have been connected to gigabit networks, a phenomenal achievement given the first million premises took more than eight years to connect. The rate at which gigabit-capable internet connections are installed has increased threefold, ensuring more homes and businesses do not have to wait to have access to the internet speeds they need.
Commenting, Caroline said:
“Lightning-fast broadband is vital to levelling up towns and villages across the country, but for too long hard to reach areas in Gosport have suffered from slow internet speeds.
“That is why I am delighted the Government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit is making process across the UK, with 20 million premises connected since 2019 and 69.84% of premises across the South East will benefit.
“This progress means businesses and organisations can tap into rapid and reliable internet, unleashing their potential, creating opportunities and driving growth across the country.”
Commenting, Digital Secretary Nadine Dorries said:
“Today we enter an exciting new phase of our £5 billion Project Gigabit digital connectivity programme by signing our first major contract in Dorset.
“Thousands of hard-to-reach homes and businesses in the region will get access to faster connections and join the 20 million properties we’ve helped connect over the last three years.
“The benefits of better broadband connectivity cannot be underestimated and this work will mean those living in rural areas can enjoy 21st century speeds in the home and workplace, making their lives easier and more productive.”
