£15m broadband project for Malton and Pickering begins

The investment will provide fibre optic broadband to more than 370 buildings in the education and health sectors across North Yorkshire within the next 18 months.

The project is the result of a successful bid by North Yorkshire County Council in collaboration with the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Local Full Fibre Networks Challenge Fund. Properties in Selby and Easingwold are also benefitting in this roll-out.

North Yorkshire County Cllr Don Mackenzie, executive member for access, said: “Efficient digital connectivity is important in creating and maintaining successful local economies and communities, particularly in North Yorkshire’s rural areas. This further improvement to our digital infrastructure will help to deliver national strategies such as the NHS long-term plan and the Department for Education’s programme to boost technology in our schools.”

Supported by the county’s seven district councils, the contract was awarded to SCD, which specialises in installing data for both private and public sector clients.

SCD group chairman Chris Durkan said: “The roll-out of full fibre will provide major employment opportunities over the coming years and the build will be driven by a local workforce that is genuinely motivated and proud to play a role in such a transformational project.

“We will work tirelessly to reduce disruption during the roll-out, which will deliver high-speed connectivity to public sector premises across the region.”

North Yorkshire County Council already has a personal high-speed connectivity provider NYnet, which helped with the successful bid.

Scott Walters, chief executive NYnet, said: “We are very excited to be entering the delivery phase of our new full fibre network, which we are delivering in partnership with SCD Group.

“This new network will improve speeds and user experience for many public sector bodies in North Yorkshire including schools, GP surgeries, hospitals and libraries.”