38,600 homes and businesses across Leicestershire, Rutland, Stamford, and further afield will receive lightning-fast broadband thanks to a £71.5 million investment from Government.

This funding is part of Project Gigabit, the Government's £5 billion programme to deliver fast, reliable broadband across the UK, especially to homes excluded from commercial suppliers' roll outs in rural areas.

It will therefore improve connectivity for some of the hardest to reach communities across the area, allowing residents to start a business, stay in touch with family and friends, and access all of the opportunities that technology offers regardless of where they live. 

CityFibre is the UK's largest independent full fibre platform and has been awarded five contracts under the Government's £5bn Project Gigabit programme. 

Alicia Kearns, Member of Parliament for Rutland and Melton who advocated for the development, said: "I am delighted that even more homes and businesses are set to benefit thanks to Project Gigabit, delivering on the Government's commitment to extend lightning-fast broadband, connecting our hard-to-reach rural communities and making sure no one gets left behind. 

"As the map shows, the Government is substantially improving broadband access for communities in East and North Rutland, Stamford, and in the Vale. 

"A few years ago, I secured 12,000 homes in Rutland to receive the first giga-upgrades from Government, this builds on that success and sees substantially more reach." 

Premises marked in orange are in initial scope for this Government investment, meaning they will be connected via the Project Gigabit contract for Leicestershire and Warwickshire.

Premises marked in blue are in deferred scope, meaning that the Government's market reviews have indicated that these premises are likely to be included in suppliers' future commercial plans, and will receive a gigabit-capable connection without the need for public subsidy. 

However, if suppliers' commercial plans change, and it is deemed unlikely that these premises will be connected through those commercial plans, then it may later be placed within the scope of our proposed intervention.