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A new scheme to bring full fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) broadband capabilities to rural parts of North Yorkshire has officially got underway with the first installation of new cabling infrastructure.
The first premises set to benefit from the investment, which is worth £15.1 million, will be in Selby and Easingwold, with work also set to begin in Malton and Pickering later this month.
Over the next 18 months, the project will bring ultrafast FTTP broadband to 370 buildings in the education and public sectors, which can be used as hubs to bring the technology to private firms and local residents.
Executive member for access at North Yorkshire County Council Don Mackenzie said: "Efficient digital connectivity is important in creating and maintaining successful local economies and communities, particularly in North Yorkshire’s rural areas."
He added the improvements to the county's digital infrastructure will help to deliver on national strategies such as the NHS long-term plan and the Department for Education’s programme to boost technology in schools.
Funding for the scheme is the result of a successful bid by North Yorkshire County Council and its wholly-owned high-speed connectivity provider NYnet to the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Local Full Fibre Networks Challenge Fund.
The necessary infrastructure work will be completed by SCD, a Yorkshire-based civil and infrastructure installation contractor that specialises in installing data and other utilities in the public highway.
Group chairman of SCD Chris Durkan commented: "The rollout of full fibre across the area will provide major employment opportunities over the coming years and the build will be driven by a local workforce that is genuinely motivated and proud to play a role in such a transformational project."
He added his company will "work tirelessly" to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum during the rollout.
