The board of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority have approved funding of £4.5 million to support the remaining years of its Digital Connectivity Strategy.
The authority said it should ensure a connectivity infrastructure is available across the county to support public services, communities and business growth.
An earlier round of funding worth £6.3 million for the Digital Connectivity Strategy 2021-25 was approved in January of last year. The new tranche of funds has been made available on approval of the supporting business case.
Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Dr Nik Johnson said: “Access to healthcare, jobs, education and training has become highly dependent on digital connectivity, and this has really highlighted and exacerbated the digital divide.
“Families and individuals without access to connectivity are effectively excluded from the benefits of economic growth, health inequalities are exacerbated, and children’s life chances are damaged.
“We’re committed to sustainable growth across the county and digital connectivity can go a long way to help meet the key challenges of our age, from cutting transport related emissions and mitigating climate change, to the management of scarce resources including water and energy.”
Ambitious organisation
The authority has emerged as one of the most ambitious in England for its connectivity plans. In November of last year it set out an infrastructure strategy focused on next generation broadband and mobile coverage, using smart technology to improve the environment, extending free public access Wi-Fi and digital inclusion.
It has also begun the installation of a LoRaWAN network, got behind a mobility technology accelerator programme and emphasised the importance of integrating the digital infrastructure with its local transport plan.
