Ten cities receive £114m for 100Mbps broadband infrastructure

Ten cities in the UK are to receive £114m for broadband of 80-100Mbps and wireless internet access, as part of government plans to improve connectivity across the nation.

The total sum allocated to the 10 cities is £14m more than originally promised in the budget. Government said it expected to manage the costs in the overall £830m available for broadband infrastructure investment.

The ten cities’ plans include taking broadband access to an extra 230,000 residential and 55,000 business premises, as well as high-speed wireless by 2015.

London will receive £25m, Leeds & Bradford (joint bid) £14.4m,  Belfast £13.7m, Manchester £12m, Bristol£11.3m, Cardiff  £11m, Edinburgh  £10.7m, Birmingham  £10m and Newcastle £6m.

The cities are all required to provide additional resources towards the project.

Secretary of state for culture, media and sport Maria Miller said: “Fast broadband is essential for growth, and is key to the country’s economic future. 

"These ten cities have produced ambitious and comprehensive plans, which will turn them into digital leaders, and give their local economies a real boost.”

A further £50m is due to be shared between ten smaller cities, yet to be announced.