The Combined Authority Board has approved the extension of a strategy to bring improved digital connectivity across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.

The Connecting Cambridgeshire Digital Connectivity Strategy 2025-29 aims to deliver world-class digital infrastructure, promote innovation, and ensure digital inclusion for all residents and businesses across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The updated strategy will help the region to continue to exceed the ambitious connectivity targets set by Government.

The Board was recommended to approve the strategy by the Combined Authority’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee, which heard the proposal at its meeting last month.

The new strategy builds on the achievements of the Connecting Cambridgeshire programme to date and the current strategy, which delivered the government’s target of 85% gigabit-capable broadband coverage a year before it was due. Achievements also include an increase in 4G and 5G coverage across the region, the launch of a Digital Inclusion delivery plan and a trial deployment of 32 water level sensors. There has also been the successful delivery of smart transport projects including supporting autonomous vehicle trials and installing traffic sensors to monitor road safety.

This strategy aims to eliminate gaps or ‘not spots’, pushing towards full fibre coverage across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with Government setting 2030 as the target for full coverage.

4G and 5G coverage will also be boosted, with Connecting Cambridgeshire continuing to explore options such as the deployment of 4G small cells to boost connectivity in identified ‘not spot’ areas.

The programme has been led by the Combined Authority since 2017, working in partnership with Cambridgeshire County Council.

Cllr Anna Smith, Deputy Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and chair of the Transport and Infrastructure Committee said: “I’m so pleased that this important strategy providing essential connectivity to our communities over the next five years can now move forward. The modern world increasingly demands fast, reliable connectivity at home, at work, and on the move.

“This strategy will help bring that to more people and places. That’s especially important in our rural communities. Good connectivity is one of the underpinning pieces of infrastructure which is fundamental to sustaining our economy, promoting more opportunity, jobs and prosperity, while also helping people stay in touch with friends and family, and access important services.”

This news was first published on the Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Combined Authority website on 17 October 2024.