Several areas in and around Kent (UK), such as Selling (Canterbury), Kings Hill (West Malling) and Iwade (Sittingbourne), look set to benefit after Kent County Council (KCC) stumped up over £100,000 to improve the villages broadband networks. It's also possible that the budget could later be stretched to enhance Crockham Hill (Westerham) and Womenswold (between Canterbury and Dover).

The local YourCanterbury newspaper noted that each parish council would have access to a grant of no more than £50,000. This would pay for supplier set-up costs and subsidise customer installations.


The new efforts follow publication of a damning report into the areas woeful broadband performance. KCC's recent submission to the Digital Britain report also highlighted how - based on BT's figures - 93% of the UK are currently within reach of a 2Mbps service, yet this falls to just 83% in Kent.