Rates Exemption To Encourage Broadband Rollout

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18 April 2018

Exempting new broadband fibre from business rates will give businesses across England better broadband according to Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Margot James MP and Rishi Sunak MP.

The Telecommunications Infrastructure Act 2018 paves the way for full-fibre broadband and future 5G communications. By enabling 100% business rates relief for operators who install new fibre on their networks, the Act incentivises operators to invest in the broadband network.

Now secondary legislation has been laid, firing the starting gun on the scheme which will see communications providers exempt from business rates on new fibre for 5 years, backdated to 1 April 2017.

Local Government Minister, Rishi Sunak, said: "From the country’s most rural locations, to our big cities, we want everyone to benefit from fast, affordable and reliable broadband. With this new legislation now in place, people can expect the rapid installation of new fibre, paving the way for better connectivity across the country."

Minister for Digital, Margot James, said: " People need good connectivity wherever they work, live, and travel and initiatives like our business rates relief scheme are key to us delivering this."

Voucher scheme

£67 million of investment in faster internet connections was announced by Chancellor Philip Hammond in his Spring statement. One draw for the money is a Nationwide Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme (GBVS) to provide vouchers worth up to £3,000 for a small or medium sized business or £500 to residents to help with the costs of connecting to full fibre broadband.

The scheme is part of the wider government plan to get more homes and businesses connected to full fibre broadband. It builds on the £200 million Local Full Fibre Networks programme which gives funding to local areas to boost full fibre delivery.

Picture: Working from a rural home via fibre Wi-Fi will benefit from a variety of schemes.

Article written by Cathryn Ellis | Published 18 April 2018

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