A digitally connected Worcestershire

Fundamental to achieving the vision set out in the Worcestershire County Council’s 2021 – 2023 Digital Strategy and underpinning the Key Priorities of the Council, in particular Open for Business, is the need to have fixed and mobile infrastructure that holds digital connectivity in place across the County.

A digitally connected Worcestershire will streamline the delivery of services, so they are provided in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible. It will also ensure the County remains an attractive and productive place to live, work and invest.

How we are doing

98.55%* 

of premises have access to Superfast speeds

65.65%* 

of premises have access to Fibre to the Premises

80.27%* 

of premises with access to Gigabit capable infrastructure

£7m value 

of Rural Gigabit Connectivity vouchers secured

Source: * figures from thinkbroadband.com, correct as of March 2024

Worcestershire County Council’s 2021 - 2023 Digital Strategy states “We will use modern technologies to enable digital opportunity, fundamentally improving how our customers and communities. Streamlining the delivery of our services so they can be provided in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.”

To achieve this vision, fixed and mobile infrastructure that underpins digital connectivity needs to be in place across the county. Worcestershire County Council is supporting the deployment of ‘gigabit’ (1000mpbs) capable broadband infrastructure across as much of the county as possible, whilst supporting all properties having access to at least 10Mbps download speeds.

For mobile networks Worcestershire County Council supports the government’s and mobile industry’s ambitions to improve geographic coverage and discuss performance issues in the county with the operators. Worcestershire County Council also explore the opportunities on the leading edge of connectivity such as the benefits that new technologies e.g. 5G, Wi Fi 6, Multi-Access Edge Compute (MEC) and Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-IOT) can bring.

These telecommunications networks and technologies will not only provide better access to our improved online services, but also support communities and local businesses with their digital connectivity requirements at work, at home and out and about both today and in the future.

Worcestershire County Council is now focused on improving digital connectivity for the county’s residents and businesses through:

Supporting the Government Agenda for 85% Gigabit capable broadband by the end of 2025, by accelerating past the national average figure for Gigabit capable broadband and remaining ahead of it. This will be achieved by:

• working with broadband infrastructure providers to commercially invest in Worcestershire and supporting them to do so
• engaging with BDUK’s Gigabit investment programme
• highlighting the availability of BDUK’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and supporting community led schemes
• working internally and with partners so that the right policies and practices are in place in regards planning, working in the highway and collaboration with other physical infrastructure projects

Communicating with residents and businesses that receive less than 10Mbps download speed and are not in a Gigabit capable plan that they can demand an improved service through the UK’s Broadband Universal Service Obligation (USO) provided by BT.

Being at the forefront of digital connectivity innovation, seeking to understand and explore new connected technologies and how they can benefit the county’s residents, businesses, and our public services e.g. Worcestershire 5G and West Mercia Rural 5G.