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<p>We currently split Sussex into East and West when collecting data. According to
Thinkbroadband (<a href="http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E10000011" target="_blank">http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E10000011</a>),
97.3% of premises in East Sussex could access superfast speeds and 13.2% had access
to gigabit capable speeds, which is up from 0.5% in 2016. Only 0.8% of premises have
access to less than 10Mbps, which makes them eligible for the Universal Service obligation
(<a href="https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/uso" target="_blank">https://www.ofcom.org.uk/consultations-and-statements/category-1/uso</a>).
Fast, reliable broadband has been instrumental in helping businesses and communities
cope with the pressures caused by the COVID-19 public health emergency. It has enabled
businesses to continue trading, diversify their offer and assist residents to work
from home by allowing everyday activities to become digital.</p><p>In East Sussex,
the Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme has issued vouchers worth £562,272 to deliver gigabit-speed
broadband to 852 premises. Many more projects are in the pipeline to receive DCMS
support.</p><p>DCMS continues to work with Sussex Local Bodies to deliver gigabit-capable
broadband solutions through its other programme such as the Superfast programme, which
has been delivering gigabit speeds for several years.</p><p>West Sussex is similar
with 97.2% of premises with access to Superfast and 14% with access to gigabit capable
speeds. 0.9% are eligible for the USO (<a href="http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E10000032"
target="_blank">http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E10000032</a>)</p><p>West Sussex
is committed to its rural digital agenda and has been working with DCMS and suppliers
to accelerate coverage in some of the hardest to reach areas of the county.</p><p>The
DCMS Rural Gigabit Voucher Scheme, which West Sussex is “topping up” to support rural
communities, has attracted great interest. So far 28 community projects have registered
with DCMS meaning around 2000 premises are able to benefit from the scheme with £1.1m
being profiled to date and a further 26 community projects are seeking quotes.</p><p>Arundel
and South Downs constituency (<a href="http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E14000534"
target="_blank">http://labs.thinkbroadband.com/local/E14000534</a>) currently has
93% of premises with the ability to access superfast speeds which is up from 7% in
1012. Currently 8% can access gigabit speeds.</p><p>Mid Sussex also has an ongoing
Local Full Fibre Network Programme (LFFN) with an investment of £2.2m. The project
focuses on developing new fibre and ducting for a scaffold ring in Burgess Hill and
a connection to the Brighton Digital Exchange and the creation of a new Digital Exchange
in Burgess Hill.</p><p>Mid Sussex District Council has also been successful in securing
£3.2M of funding through the Getting Britain Building fund from MHCLG. This is to
build a Rural Connectivity Full Fibre Network between Burgess Hill and Brighton, across
the South Downs.</p><p>This project will complement and leverage the DCMS Local Full
Fibre Network Programme investment across Burgess Hill. The gigabit capable network
will connect 7 rural towns and is within 200m of over 20,000 rural households. The
network will be completed by March 2022.</p><p> </p>
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