Matt Warman MP has welcomed new updates on superfast broadband rollout in the Boston and Skegness constituency and wider Lincolnshire. The Government has now supported the rollout of superfast broadband to over 15,000 premises, on top of more than 24,000 installations funded commercially by providers such as BT. A further 4,000 will be provided by June 2017 at the latest.

For those still unable to get good broadband speeds, a subsidised satellite broadband connection to all eligible premises which are unable to access a basic broadband of at least 2Mbps, is now also being offered by the Government via OnLincolnshire. Any homes or businesses which would like to take advantage of this offer can get further information and make an application via the local project team at: http://basicbroadbandchecker.culture.gov.uk.

Furthermore, on 23 March 2016 the Government launched a consultation on their approach to implementing a new broadband Universal Service Obligation in legislation. The consultation will run until 18 April, and you can find out more at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/broadband-universal-service-obligation. Matt encourages you to respond so that your views can be heard.

It has previously been announced that Lincolnshire has been allocated over £16.6m of government funding for the roll-out program.

Matt said “I am pleased to see that of 48,520 premises in the constituency, over half have been covered by commercial deployment in the first two phases, with a third covered by Christmas last year. A further 4,019 will be covered by the end of June 2017. The internet is an essential service in this day and age, and I, along with the Government, am committed to ensuring that everyone in the constituency is able to access superfast broadband in the next few years. That’s why I’ve held debates in parliament on this issue, as well as engaged intensively with local businesses, consumers and providers.”

• Further information is available via the project website at http://www.onlincolnshire.org/.
• You can check the availability of superfast broadband services at http://gosuperfastchecker.culture.gov.uk/ from where you will be directed to available superfast broadband providers and for those who cannot currently get superfast broadband, some providers provide a demand registration service where you can register your interest.