Overview
NICRE is contributing to a partnership to tackle digital exclusion in Northumberland
As part of Commsworld being awarded a £22million contract by Northumberland County Council to deliver full-fibre infrastructure to the area over the next 20 years, NICRE is working in partnership with iNorthumberland and Community Action Northumberland to boost digital skills and confidence in rural communities.
The new infrastructure will be linked to Commsworld’s Optical Core Network (OCN) which will act as the ‘spine’ from which wholesale fibre broadband providers can branch out into towns and rural areas at reduced rates to ensure communities can make use of significantly improved digital connectivity.
NICRE and partners will work in these rural areas, engaging with a wide range of hard-to-reach communities and businesses to develop and deliver a programme of opportunities for digital skills training and engagement. This will include creating digital champions and running events to help residents and rural businesses acquire the skills and confidence to benefit from being better connected.
