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<p><del class="ministerial">The Government is working with mobile operators and suppliers
to build an open, flexible, and diverse telecoms supply market, following the recommendations
of the Diversification Taskforce, published on 20 April on <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/telecoms-diversification-taskforce-findings-and-report/telecoms-diversification-taskforce-findings-and-report"
target="_blank">GOV.UK</a>.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">The Taskforce
recommendations are helping to guide our approach delivering the Diversification strategy,
including its central pillar of attracting new suppliers. The Government is designing
a programme of targeted R&D to level the playing field for smaller suppliers,
and we continue to consider all options.</del></p><p> </p><p><del class="ministerial">Suppliers
are themselves taking positive steps to support this agenda and a number of smaller
suppliers have already announced new research facilities in the UK.</del></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">The government is committed to delivering lightning-fast, reliable
broadband to everyone in the UK. ‘Project Gigabit’ is ambitious, challenging and central
to how we build back better. Our plan - to stimulate investment, bust barriers and
drive competition - is working. We are on track for one of the fastest rollouts in
Europe and for 60% of all households to have access to gigabit speeds by the end of
the year. It is a huge leap forward from 2019, when it was 9%.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins
class="ministerial">We are backing Project Gigabit with £5 billion so hard to reach
communities are not left out - starting to level up now, not waiting for the end of
the commercial rollout, and building on the half a million rural homes and businesses
already given coverage through our support.</ins></p><p> </p><p><ins class="ministerial">As
part of Project Gigabit we are funding up to £210 million worth of vouchers over the
next three years to help with the costs of installing gigabit to people’s doorsteps
and up to £110 million to connect up to 7,000 rural public buildings such as GP surgeries,
libraries and schools. All premises not covered through these measures or through
commercial coverage will be in scope for new Project Gigabit contracts.</ins></p><p>
</p><p><ins class="ministerial">According to Thinkbroadband (<a href="http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E14000958"
target="_blank">http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E14000958</a>) 99.61% of premises
in Southport currently has access to superfast broadband - up from 23% in 2011. On
top of this, 19% also have access to Gigabit speeds. So far, 9 gigabit connection
vouchers have been issued in the Southport area with a value of £19,600. Eligibility
of other premises for vouchers can be checked at <a href="https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/"
target="_blank">https://gigabitvoucher.culture.gov.uk/ </a></ins></p><p /><p />
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