cities to bid for ‘super-connected’ status

CITIES in Yorkshire will have the chance to bid to become “super-connected” digital centres via a new £100 million fund for superfast broadband and high-speed mobile connections in key urban areas.

By The Newsroom

Published 30th Nov 2011, 06:00 BST

The Government said it wants to create 10 “super-connected cities” across the UK, with internet connections of 80 to 100Mbs and city-wide high-speed mobile connectivity.

The UK’s four capital cities - London, Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast – will be amongst the 10, with a national competition to decide the other six.

The Treasury said there will be a particular focus on small and medium sized businesses and strategic employment zones to support growth.

Government documents stated: “The aim is to have the best superfast broadband network in Europe by 2015.”

However, there was no announcement to extend superfast broadband beyond the 90 per cent nationwide coverage already announced.

The most rural 10 per cent of the country has only been promised minimum speeds of 2Mbs by 2015.

Andrew Ferguson, of the Think Broadband website, said the Government had “missed a chance” to support rural areas.