Stuart Anderson MP's request to enhance digital connectivity in South Shropshire has been accepted, as Ministers have signed a new deal that will see lightning-fast broadband installed in tens of thousands of hard-to-reach premises across the locality.
Welcoming the news, Stuart has said that the deal will benefit many homes and businesses surrounding the Shropshire hills. It follows an orchestrated campaign led by Stuart, after many residents contacted him about connectivity issues in the area.
Ministers have said that the new deal is a result of questions that Stuart had recently asked in Parliament on behalf of local residents. In a letter received by Stuart, the Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms Sir Chris Bryant MP said:
"I alluded to this contract in my answers to your recent written parliamentary questions on broadband connectivity. Thank you for these questions, as well as for your efforts to encourage your constituents to apply for vouchers under the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme."
The £108.9 million contract signed with broadband supplier Openreach will deliver gigabit-capable broadband to up to 47,000 premises across East and South Shropshire, North Herefordshire, North Wales, and South West Wales.
It follows the success of Stuart's recent campaign, which urged residents across South Shropshire to apply for the funding to cover the costs of a gigabit-capable broadband connection as part of Project Gigabit - a £5 billion fund launched in 2021.
The last government had made up to £210 million in vouchers supporting the installation of gigabit-capable broadband at homes and businesses in areas not included in suppliers' commercial plans so that rural communities are not left behind.
Under the scheme, a subsidy of up to £4,500 for residents and businesses will be available towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband through local community broadband projects.
According to the independent website Thinkbroadband.com, 53% of premises in South Shropshire can currently access a gigabit-capable connection. This significant government investment will extend coverage even further.
Over 108,00 vouchers have been used to connect rural homes and businesses with fast, reliable broadband. It is led by broadband suppliers, who are encouraged to communicate directly with communities to increase local awareness of the scheme.
The announcement forms part of four new contracts worth over £289 million the government has signed to deliver gigabit-capable broadband to around 131,000 homes and businesses across the country
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"Enhancing digital connectivity is a top priority of mine, as I know it is for many fellow residents across South Shropshire who depend on reliable broadband connections to access public services, take up employment opportunities, and stay in contact with their loved ones. Having repeatedly raised this issue with Ministers in Parliament, I welcome the new contract that has been signed with Openreach. Worth more than £100 million, it will benefit tens of thousands of premises in areas surrounding the Shropshire Hills. I will certainly be pushing to see that this is implemented as soon as possible and for further developments in this area, so that all of South Shropshire can benefit from the amazing opportunities that faster broadband speeds open up."
As part of his campaign, Stuart had tabled a series of written questions in Parliament on this subject. The questions and answers can be found here, here, and here.
