Residents, businesses and communities across Bath and North East Somerset could get up to £500 to help boost their broadband speeds from under 2Mbps to over 10Mbps.

Anyone eligible (with a current broadband speed of under 2Mbps) could benefit from a new broadband voucher scheme being offered through the Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) programme.

Connecting Devon and Somerset has committed to bringing broadband to everyone within the programme area. If you are not yet able to receive broadband speeds of over 2Mbps you may be able to get connected through the CDS voucher scheme. The scheme will provide a subsidy of up to £500, in the form of a voucher code, to fund the installation of a new broadband connection. Each premise can choose their supplier from those listed on the website: connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk/cds-broadband-voucher-scheme with every solution guaranteeing a minimum of 10Mbps download speed.

Through the Connecting Devon & Somerset Partnership Bath & North East Somerset Council is working to improve rural broadband services. The £94m project aims to provide superfast broadband to 90% of properties across Devon, Somerset, North Somerset & Bath and North East Somerset by the end of 2016. The initiative has already seen the installation of 13 new broadband cabinets – opening up superfast broadband to over 3,700 homes across villages including Saltford, Timsbury, High Littleton, Radford, Tunley, Camerton, Farmborough and Chew Magna.

Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones (Conservative, Lansdown), the Council’s Cabinet Member for Economic Development, said: “This is a great opportunity for anyone struggling with broadband speeds of under 2Mbps to get up to speed with a voucher up to £500 and a choice of suppliers to install a new broadband connection of over 10Mbps. We’re keen to support our residents, businesses and communities to get even better connected and we urge anyone eligible for the scheme to apply now so they can reap the benefits.”

The scheme will run for one year up until March 2017 and is open to individual residents, small businesses and communities. Individuals, small business and communities must approach the suppliers on the Voucher Scheme for further details of their services and decide on the best fit with their requirements. Communities should work with suppliers to decide on a solution, however the individual voucher holder is able to select their own supplier and a group cannot make a decision on behalf of another. Any premises connected through the scheme are still eligible for later extensions of the broader Connecting Devon and Somerset programme.

For more details on the broadband voucher scheme, visit: connectingdevonandsomerset.co.uk/cds-broadband-voucher-scheme.