The Superfast Northamptonshire project is promoting and securing investment in "next generation access" (NGA) broadband infrastructure. At its inception in 2011, the project focus was to secure widespread uplift of broadband networks through fibre-based technologies to enable households and businesses to access superfast speeds. The internet is a vital tool for information, communication, enterprise and entertainment alike – ensuring access to reliable high-speed performance is becoming ever more in demand and critical. With over 99% of Northamptonshire premises now able to access superfast broadband, local ambitions are focused on investment in future proof technologies, namely full fibre and gigabit capable infrastructure.
Local authority led Superfast programmes and the government’s Project Gigabit are investing in areas of market failure i.e. localities where commercial telecoms investment is unlikely to come forward, leaving properties in need of public intervention to secure much needed uplifts in broadband speeds.
Government Policy Targets
In 2010, the UK Government set out its vision for the UK to have the best superfast broadband network in Europe. It launched the Superfast Broadband Programme with £530m of public funding, and with the aim of extending superfast coverage to 90% of UK premises by the end of 2016 and 95% by the end of 2017. This was in response to concerns that the commercial roll out of superfast broadband infrastructure would fail to reach many parts of the UK. These targets were adopted and met in Northamptonshire. Indeed, by the end of 2017, local superfast coverage had reached 97%, outperforming national ambitions.
In 2017, the government published a UK Digital Strategy addressing the main milestones for future broadband development throughout the UK, along with a Next Generation Mobile Technologies 5G Strategy. Together these set out an ambition to create a world leading digital economy in the UK. In July 2018, government published the outcome of its Future Telecoms Infrastructure Review. This set out a national, long-term strategy for digital connectivity, including more stretching targets for 15 million premises to be connected to full fibre by 2025, with nationwide coverage by 2033.
A £5 billion digital infrastructure programme was announced by the government in its 2019 Manifesto. Since then, we have seen some movement in national full fibre and gigabit broadband targets. Currently these aim to achieve a minimum of 85% gigabit capable broadband coverage across the UK by 2025 and for coverage to reach nationwide by 2030 (at least 99% of premises).
Local broadband infrastructure targets
Digital technologies have advanced more rapidly than any innovation in history. Early local authority intervention from 2011, with government, to support superfast broadband (≥ 30Mbps) has been crucial for the economy by enabling widespread availability of digital technology which can enhance business performance and efficiency. It is also supporting home working, leisure, health care and environmental benefits, and access to learning. Digital connectivity needs were brought into sharp focus with the COVID-19 pandemic and outlooks have changed.
Digital creativity and technology innovation is driving ever increasing consumption of broadband capability and our local ambition recognises that full fibre and gigabit capable technology is crucial for future prosperity – and it's unlikely to end there.
Locally set broadband coverage targets have been ambitious throughout the Superfast programme and Northamptonshire has consistently performed well in comparison to coverage levels in England overall. The Superfast Northamptonshire project and local targets have remained countywide since North and West Northamptonshire Councils were established in March 2021.
Better Broadband Scheme
As part of Stage 1 of the Superfast Northamptonshire project, there was also a commitment to see basic broadband services of at least 2Mbps available to all premises. As part of a national programme, a Better Broadband subsidy scheme was launched locally in December 2015. It closed in December 2019. This provided people who were suffering the lowest broadband speeds in the county (below 2Mbps) with the opportunity to take up faster services offered by a range of registered providers. Solutions were largely reliant on satellite broadband technology.
Universal Service Obligation (USO)
The Government has since agreed a Universal Service Obligation (USO) intended as a "safety net" to deliver broadband to those premises that do not have access to a decent and affordable connection.
For more information and eligibility criteria, please visit the Ofcom website.
The Superfast Northamptonshire project is working with suppliers to ensure that Northamptonshire is one of the best places (urban and rural) in the country for fast and reliable broadband connectivity. You can keep up to date on project progress on the Progress Overview page.
You can find out more about Next Generation Access (NGA) and the definitions of superfast and ultrafast broadband in the FAQs.