More than 750 rural homes and businesses will get gigabit-capable broadband by December 2021 as part of a £2.1 million scheme, supported by Bucks LEP and partners Buckinghamshire Council and Openreach, to extend the fibre-optic network further into Buckinghamshire’s countryside. Buckinghamshire has one of the highest percentages of small businesses of any council area, and they make a significant contribution to the national economy, Bucks LEP is therefore delighted to support this project in its aim to provide better connectivity to poor served businesses, especially as we look past COVID-19 and the changes to workplace models we are seeing. Since 2013 superfast broadband has been connected to more than 50,000 homes and businesses in the county, and 96.4% of premises now have superfast broadband speeds – up from 68.3% when the work began in 2013!