Superfast broadband for Edinburgh

Vouchers will be awarded to businesses to help cover the installation costs of connecting to superfast broadband services up to the value of £3,000. Businesses will pay the VAT costs and the ongoing subscription. To qualify for a voucher, applicants should be small to medium sized or be a third sector organisation located in the City of Edinburgh Council area, have fewer than 250 employees and a turnover of less than £40m. Further information and an application form can be found here.

Cllr Frank Ross, Convener of the Economy Committee, said: “This funding means that all small to medium sized businesses in the city who don’t already have a fast connection should now be able sign up with their preferred supplier free. We have worked hard to secure this opportunity for local businesses and I would strongly recommend those without a fast connection apply for a voucher as high grade broadband is more reliable, faster and it will make your business more efficient and competitive.”

Communications Minister Ed Vaizey said: -“The broadband market is moving at an incredible pace. Today, businesses expect and demand faster and faster broadband to compete in the global race. Connection vouchers will be an important tool for cities in helping to address that demand, and Government has now allocated up to £100 million to  provide a digital boost to superconnected cities like Edinburgh.”

Further information:-

• The voucher scheme is part of the City of Edinburgh Council’s Connected Capital Programme which aims to improve Edinburgh’s broadband connectivity. Follow on Twitter @connectedinburg.
• In the vast majority of cases the voucher should cover the total cost but where it doesn’t, businesses will have to cover the difference themselves.
• Edinburgh’s Connected Capital Programme is part of the £150m Super Connected Cities Programme which is being delivered through Broadband Delivery UK which is part of the UK Government’s Department of Culture, Media and Sport. Other projects which are planned to be part of the Connected Capital Programme are an outdoor wireless network delivered though a service concession contract, wireless hotspots in a number of public buildings, wi-fi on the tram and buses and other innovative connectivity projects.
• Superfast broadband is defined as speed of, or over 30 Megabytes per Second (Mbps), Ultrafast is defined 80 to 100+ Mbps.
• The launch forms part of a wider package of new benefits for small businesses set out in the Government’s commitment to make it easier for small firms to grow, Small Business: GREAT Ambition, which coincides with Small Business Saturday. Please visit to the Departmnet for Business, Innovation and Skills’ page on www.gov.uk