“Our aim is to use these [Rural Market Testing Pilots] to discover exactly what needs to be done to make superfast broadband commercially viable in rural communities as well as urban areas, and to understand what kind of Government support will be necessary.” Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, 15th July
The first step in understanding how government may invest in extending superfast broadband beyond where the private sector will get to will be the running of 4 market testing pilots in rural areas. The information from these projects, in addition to initiatives that are already going on across the country, will be used to better target possible government intervention and investment in ‘superfast broadband’ in the future. BDUK will be the body responsible for the delivery of these projects, and has chosen the following areas as announced in the spending review on 20th October 2010:
• Cumbria
Over the coming months we will be developing the pilot projects ready to go out to procurement in 2011. We will be working with the local councils and other local bodies to develop the projects and to engage with the local communities.
