First areas set for super fast broadband

The first areas targeted for a £5billion broadband upgrade have been revealed, with work to start in 2022.

As many as 510,000 homes and businesses long plagued by sluggish broadband will be frontofthequeue,aspartofthe Government's Project Gigabit scheme.

These include Cambridgeshire, Cornwall, Cumbria, Dorset, Durham, Essex, Northumberland, South Tyneside and Tees Valley.

Firms will be able to bid for contracts on the project from spring, with "spades in the ground" in the first half of 2022,theDepartmentforDigital, Culture, Media and Sport said.

Onegigabitistheequivalent of 1,000 megabits, capable of downloading a high definition film in under a minute.

It comes after the Government had to row back on its election pledge of providing the UK with full-fibre broadband by 2025, instead aiming for at least 85%.

PrimeMinisterBorisJohnson said: "Project Gigabit is the rocketboostthatweneedtoget lightning-fastbroadbandtoall areas of the country.

"Thisbroadbandrevolution willfireuppeople'sbusinesses and homes, and the vital public services that we all rely on, so we can continue to level up andbuildbackbetterfromthis pandemic."

In addition, £210million worthofvoucherswillbeavailableonceagainfromApril8,allowingeligibleresidentstoask forupto£1,500andbusinesses £3,500 towards the cost of installinggigabit-capablebroadband.

Some £110million has been set aside to support GP surgeries,librariesandschools,while the Government also explores how satellite and 5G technology could be used to connect very hard to reach spots.