This element of work will focus on small pilots of key next generation broadband solutions, including satellite, wireless and fibre technology. The results of this pilot work will feed into a bigger piece of work which is the Lincolnshire Broadband plan and includes Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK) and Community Broadband.

BDUK

The BDUK project is the main piece of work which will help to see the county achieve the national target of 90% of households having access to superfast broadband and at least 2MB broadband for the remaining 10% of the population. Current BDUK targets should see the rollout starting in 2013.

Community Broadband

Some communities may wish to develop their own broadband solutions and Lincolnshire County Council wish to support these initiatives. There is help and assistance available at www.onlincolnshire.org|.

We are encouraging every business and individual across the county to register at www.onlincolnshire.org|. Registrations on this site will be a key piece of evidence to convince suppliers of the potential market in Lincolnshire.

Grey Sky Consulting| have now been appointed to provide Technical Support to this part of the project. A Public Consultation about the proposed pilot locations has been published and is available on www.onlincolnshire.org|. In addition, CDI Alliance |working with Globe Consultants| have been appointed to provide Community Support activities. A schedule of events is being planned and there will be various types of support available to communities in the 'Not Spot' areas of East Lindsey, Boston and Lincoln City. 

The project plans to create 5 Coastal Arts and Technology Hubs in Skegness, Mablethorpe, Huttoft, Louth and Alford. The hubs will provide a central location for local creative, cultural and artistic companies to come together to collaborate, network and exhibit and to house digital solutions which would benefit these companies.

Spalding based consultants, Kind of Digital|, have been appointed to assist with this activity. Kind of Digital| have put together a schedule of workshops and surgeries that are there to help potential users of these hubs. They will also be offering one to one advice. More information about the hubs, events and support available can be found at www.digitallincs.com|. So if you are a creative, cultural and artistic company based in Lincolnshire's coastal area, please take a look.

For more information contact Nicola Radford: Nicola.Radford@Lincolnshire.gov.uk|

The project will set up a Digital Business Cluster for digital technology related businesses based in Lincoln City, East Lindsey and Boston. The Digital Business Cluster will provide a framework for these business to network, share best practice, learn about what is happening in the wider digital technology business sector and promote joint ventures.

CDI Alliance| are working with Globe Consultants| to deliver this part of the project. A schedule of events has been planned and there is also one to one support available. More information can be found on the CDI Alliance website|. Dates for events can also be found in the BusinessLincolnshire events| list or you can download file from Related Documents.

SME’s are encouraged to join the Lincolnshire Digital Business Cluster| LinkedIn group to keep up to date with activities.

For more information contact Elizabeth Spurr- elizabeth.spurr@globelimited.co.uk|.