Rotherham Council stumps up £630,000 for broadband project

Rotherham Borough Council has agreed to stump up £630,000 to help keep afloat Digital Region following a review of the project.

Neighbouring Doncaster and Barnsley will contribute the same sum, while Sheffield will cough up £1.26 million to shore up the broadband firm’s finances.

It comes just two months after Rotherham agreed to make £270,000 available, if needed, to support the scheme.

Digital Region said that the review had confirmed that there was a strong commitment to superfast broadband in the region, with a spokesman saying that its implementation would aid economic growth and development, “keeping South Yorkshire ahead of the digital curve.”

It was reported two months ago that Digital Region had lost more than £9 million last year in operating costs and brought in just £167,000.

Following the review, Digital Region will use the commercial model being promoted by central government's Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) for superfast broadband in the rest of the UK.

This model places the majority of risk and liability to a private sector partner.

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