HIGH quality broadband is to be rolled out to 95 per cent of homes and businesses across North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire County Council and its wholly-owned company NYnet awarded the contract in February for the third phase of the Superfast North Yorkshire (SFNY), which will take coverage of high quality broadband to 95 per cent of all domestic and business premises in the county.

Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond, has welcomed the news that more than 14,000 additional homes and businesses in North Yorkshire are to have superfast broadband availability.

Mr Sunak, who has campaigned for improved and extended broadband coverage since he was first elected in 2015, said: “Decent broadband is an essential utility these days. For many households it is almost as important as water and electricity.

“This phase of the roll-out in North Yorkshire is backed by more than £7m of Government money and will bring 30mbs-plus broadband speed to many more communities in rural locations.”

Take-up of superfast broadband from internet providers in North Yorkshire has reached 51 per cent – one of the highest in the country.

An interactive map is now available at www.superfastnorthyorkshire.com, allowing residents to check if they are included in the initial 12,000 connections and an approximate installation date.