After a protracted period of negotiation, the UK governmental plan to invest £530 million in local authorities to provide super-fast broadband, is to be green-lighted by the European Commission.

The funding is designed to develop comprehensive coverage of superfast broadband in rural areas, through fibre optic networks.

Issues regarding the roll-out have included criticism aimed at the lack of competition, including a report from the House of Lords Communications Committee, which highlighted BT’s dominance of broadband contracts.