Information Communication Technology

Broadband Business Fund

"Bringing broadband to all of Leicester and Leicestershire"

Many areas of Leicestershire still do not have access to broadband and are unlikely to receive a service before the end of 2005. The main reason for this is that these areas are commercially unattractive to broadband suppliers.

The Leicester Shire Economic Partnership believes broadband should be available to all as it can make a valuable contribution to developing the county's economy. We have therefore provided funding to the Broadband Business Fund, a scheme set up in collaboration with public sector partnerships in Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire to encourage suppliers to provide services to these more difficult areas.

Organisation: LSEP (Leicester Shire Economic Partnership)

Completion Date: 31/03/2005

Location

Leicester and Leicestershire. For more detail, see Broadband Business Fund maps

Project Description

Digital communications will be the new communications medium without which businesses and areas will be left behind - on the wrong side of the digital divide - DTZ Pieda Consulting

FAQs:

How will it work?

We have identified businesses of all sizes, from home-workers to large businesses, that are in the same locality and that really want broadband services to help improve their performance.

Funding will be offered to suppliers for those areas where demand is highest and where the greatest benefits to the local economy will result.

We will select suppliers and provide them with subsidies after service delivery has been verified (services will be comparable with typical offerings elsewhere in the UK).

When will it happen?

The key dates are:

• Supplier pre-qualification exercise in February 2004.
• Subsequent tenders to select suppliers for specific areas from April 2004 through to January 2005.
• Service availability for businesses via funding intervention is anticipated by November 2004.
• Services may be available sooner in some target areas, if suppliers act independently because of the interest that the scheme generates.

You may also like to read our previous progress reports.

What should you do next?

If you would like to subscribe to broadband and believe you may live or work in an area covered by the BBF, please go to the Broadband Business Fund Maps and check whether your postcode is covered. If it is, then please register with the BBF in order to help us demonstrate to suppliers the potential demand for broadband within the BBF areas.

For more information on broadband in Leicestershire visit www.leics.gov.uk/broadband

Project news
For up-to-date information, read the latest project update here

Outcomes

We have set ourselves the target, together with Leicestershire County Council, of ensuring that everyone in Leicestershire who wants broadband access to broadband from home or at work should be able to do so by the end of 2005.

Project Contacts

Project manager:
Michael Thompson
Tel: 0116 257 5699
E-mail: michaelt@lsep.co.uk
Website: www.lsep.co.uk

LSEP contact:
Michael Thompson
Tel: 0116 257 5684
Email: michaelt@lsep.co.uk
Website: www.lsep.co.uk