Red tape blamed for delays to internet initiative

The NYnet initiative was unveiled more than five years ago when it was heralded as important as the arrival of the railways to ensuring North Yorkshire’s economy can compete in the modern technological age of the 21st century.

The scheme is now at a watershed as work is being started to provide vastly improved broadband coverage to attract a new breed of businesses which rely on cutting-edge technology to North Yorkshire.

The move is also aimed at protecting companies already based in England’s largest county and ensuring that they can remain viable in the increasingly competitive global business world.

A £70m investment is being planned in high-quality internet services after BT was awarded the contract in July last year, and the project is due to be completed by the end of 2014.

But the chief executive of NYnet, John Moore, admitted the complexity of the scheme and bureaucratic red tape has meant the project has taken more than a year longer to deliver than had initially been hoped.

He also told the Yorkshire Post that while 90 per cent of homes and businesses across the county will benefit from broadband connections equivalent to those in major cities such as Leeds and Sheffield, tens of thousands of properties will remain outside the coverage.

However, efforts are underway to provide localised wireless schemes to boost connections for the remaining 10 per cent – about 40,000 premises – although internet speeds are expected to still be significantly slower than other parts of the county.

Mr Moore said: “It has been a complicated jigsaw to get all the funding in place, and we have had to deal with a great deal of administration and bureaucracy.

“It has been frustrating and it has really taken 12 months longer than had first been hoped.

“But five years in, we are actually delivering the vision which we first announced in 2007. Next generation broadband is vital for businesses and residents alike to promote both the economy and social activity.”

The long-running problem of poor broadband provision in rural areas has been highlighted as one of the most pressing issues in the Yorkshire Dales National Park – an area that will have to rely on local wireless schemes.

Consultations which are being conducted by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority for a management plan spanning the next five years have pinpointed the need to improve broadband provision as one of the most pressing issues.

Large parts of the Yorkshire Wolds and the North York Moors National Park are also expected to continue to endure low download speeds and will also have to rely on localised wireless connections.

The Superfast North Yorkshire project has been awarded £17m from the Government and a further £13m from Europe.

BT is match-funding that amount and investing a further £10m in its operations in North Yorkshire’s towns and cities – bringing a total investment of about £70m across the county.