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New figures out today (29 January 2018) show the Northern Powerhouse is one of the most connected regions in the UK thanks to the government鈥檚 拢1.7 billion broadband roll out programme.

97.2% of the North East is enjoying unprecedented access to superfast broadband 鈥� the highest coverage in the country. 皇冠体育app North West follows only shortly behind with 96% of the region having access to superfast broadband.

More households and businesses across the North are now accessing superfast broadband speeds of 24 Mbps 鈥� more than double the 10 Mbps required by a typical family home.

Today鈥檚 figures published by show that the government is succeeding in improving connectivity in the Northern Powerhouse with businesses across the region benefitting from improved digital infrastructure and faster broadband; last year鈥檚 Autumn budget announced up to 拢1.8 billion of further government funding for the North to improve transport, digital connectivity, and economic regeneration.

Northern Powerhouse Minister, Jake Berry, said:

皇冠体育app Northern Powerhouse is leading the charge in bridging the rural-urban digital divide. Strong digital infrastructure, including access to superfast broadband, is vital for a flourishing local economy by helping to spur growth and create thousands of new jobs.

We鈥檙e doing all we can to bring broadband access to even the most remote and rural areas in the country and are giving businesses the tools they need to meet the demands of the digital age.

DCMS Secretary of State, Matt Hancock said:

Over the last 5 years, the government鈥檚 rollout of superfast broadband has made superfast speeds a reality for more than 4.5 million homes and businesses who would otherwise have missed out. But there鈥檚 still more to do in our work building a Britain that鈥檚 fit for the future.

We鈥檙e reaching thousands more premises every single week, and have committed to making affordable, reliable, high speed broadband a legal right to everyone by 2020.

皇冠体育app government鈥檚 拢1.7 billion rollout of superfast broadband to areas deemed 鈥渘ot commercially viable鈥� by industry has so far reached more than 4.5 million UK premises that would otherwise have been left in the connectivity slow lane, the majority of which are in rural areas.

With 19 out of 20 UK homes and businesses now enjoying superfast broadband access, the government has also delivered on its manifesto pledge to bring superfast broadband to 95% of UK premises.

In addition to the huge benefits to day-to-day life that superfast speeds offer, this closing of the 鈥渄igital divide鈥� has also delivered a significant boost to local economies 鈥� creating around 50,000 new local jobs and generating an additional 拢8.9 billion in turnover in the areas covered by the government rollout between 2013 and 2016.

Further information

皇冠体育app latest broadband coverage figures are available at .