A new broadband provider that specialises in connecting rural communities has joined forces with Digital Durham to bring enhanced connectivity to the region.

As part of the government’s Rural Gigabit Connectivity programme, businesses and residents in some of the hardest-to-reach places in the UK are eligible for funding towards the cost of installing gigabit-capable broadband to their premises.

Through the £35 million initiative to transform broadband speeds across the country – targeting full capability by 2025 – the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport is offering vouchers towards the cost of installation.

The vouchers are worth £1,500 for residential premise and £3,500 for businesses and are being topped up by Digital Durham to a maximum of £3,000 and £7,000 respectively, in recognition of the digital divide between urban and rural areas that is particularly evident in the North East.

Working closely alongside Digital Durham, broadband provider, Voneus, has already begun rolling out its superfast and ultrafast home broadband to rural residential and business communities around the North East, bringing access to a gigabit-capable service for many areas that have been overlooked by the big four broadband providers.

Zoe Day, head of marketing and communications for Voneus, is encouraging North East residents and businesses to register their interest.

“This is a great offer for people living and working in the more rural parts of the region where they are regularly affected by broadband speeds of less than 30Mb/s,” she says.

“The government scheme will end on March 31, and, while we expect it to be replaced by another scheme, we don’t yet know what it will be. So now is the time to take advantage of the offer with Digital Durham”.

Voneus has built its success around a unique business model that uses unobtrusive, flexible, and entirely wireless technology, so the impact on the environment is minimal. Conscious of working in some of the most picturesque spots in the UK, Voneus has even consulted the National Trust and Church of England, to ensure its infrastructure is sympathetic to its surroundings.

Zoe is urging people to flag up the need for improved connectivity with their parish councils and local communities, where it could benefit the residents and businesses in poorly served areas.

“We are new to the North East, so we want people to know we are here, and how we can make a difference,” says Zoe.

To get started, visit the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme website and use the postcode checker to find out if you are eligible.