Funding of £10.7m to bring 90 per cent of Edinburgh residents and businesses high speed broadband by 2015 has been announced.

The capital funding, to be managed by the City of Edinburgh Council, will enhance wireless zones in key streets, squares and parks, initially focused in the city centre.

Edinburgh is one of ten cities across the UK set to see a share of a £114 million broadband pot set up by the Westminster government to help create  ”super-connected cities” with broadband speeds of up to 100Mbps and high speed wireless internet access.

The final ‘Connected Capital’ plan for Edinburgh was submitted by the City of Edinburgh Council ahead of the announcement.

The Council also agreed to commit £1.9m of revenue funding to deliver the programme at a meeting in April this year. Further funding and revenue streams will be sought to allow specific programme activities.

Councillor Alasdair Rankin, Convener of the Finance and Resources Committee, said: “This is great news for Edinburgh. We knew the funding was coming but now the exact amount has been announced we can put our plans into action to make Edinburgh a super connected city.

“This project is a great example of the Capital Coalition’s pledge to provide for economic growth and prosperity. I am confident it will help Edinburgh to attract news jobs and investment, help unemployed people into work or learning and will greatly enhance our offering as a digitally inclusive city.”

The Council is working with stakeholders across Edinburgh to develop the project.

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