Chancellor set to unveil huge investment

Credit: PA

This week’s budget is set to include a record £5bn investment in rolling out the next generation of broadband in the most difficult to reach areas.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is also set to announce a £1bn deal with the mobile phone industry to boost 4G coverage and improve mobile signal in rural areas.

Ahead of Wednesday’s fiscal event, he said: “We are committed to levelling up across every region and nation in the UK, and that is why we are making the largest ever public investment into broadband. This investment delivers on our promises to the British people, boosting growth and prosperity across the country.”

The gigabit-capable broadband, 40-times faster than standard superfast connections, will be rolled out to the toughest to reach 20% of the country, benefitting more than five million homes and businesses.

And Sunak, alongside culture secretary Oliver Dowden, will announce a joint deal with the mobile phone industry which will provide extra coverage to 280,000 premises and 16,000 km of roads.