Councils bid for improved broadband

Thousands of people living inLeedsstudent accommodation could benefit from super-fast broadband if the local authority succeeds in its bid to secure part of a £100 million pot of Government money.

 Thousands of people living inLeedsstudent accommodation could benefit from super-fast broadband if the local authority succeeds in its bid to secure part of a £100 million pot of Government money.

Leeds City Council has teamed up with the local authority inBradfordto bid for a share of money the Government has put aside to set up 100 megabits per second citywide networks in 10 urban areas.

 If the councils are successful in their bid, they will use the money to pay for ultra-fast broadband access for 88,000 homes and more than 16,000 businesses.

 Current broadband service coverage tends to have speeds of around two to 10Mbps, but the councils say the extra funding would be able to help them set a new standard of at least 10 times faster. Both city centres and key transport routes into and between the two cities would benefit from full wireless coverage under the councils' plans.

  Keith Wakefield, Leeds City Council leader, said: "The two cities' economies are integrally linked and are the driving force for the wider growth of the city region.

 "It therefore made absolute sense to prepare a joint submission, and the funding we have bid for will enable us to transform our economies and set the standards for international competitiveness."

  Copyright Press Association 2012