Rural internet deserts in England and Wales to finally get fast broadband

The last corners of England and Wales yet to be covered by a £5 billion push to widen fast broadband could finally get access to rapid downloads, streaming and video calls after the government announced £289 million in new taxpayer-funded contracts enabling coverage. The new contracts to lay full-fibre connections in areas not reached by private investment would apply in north Wales, including Anglesey, south-west Wales, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Devon, Somerset, Essex and the north-east of England, the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) announced. After some people in broadband blackspots were forced to turn to Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite-enabled internet connections, the latest deals to boost connectivity should give 131,000 households and businesses in village and rural internet deserts gigabit-level fibre coverage – allowing a high-definition movie to be downloaded in around a minute. The announcement comes after years of frustration over a mostly rural-urban digital divide. Campaigners have said slow internet in the countryside inhibits business, restricts access to online health and education services, and can worsen social isolation.