Digital strategy funds applications open this month

Applications for two major funds under the Government's digital strategy open later this month.

Caretaker Information Technology Minister David Cunliffe announced the launch of two blocks of funding available under the strategy announced in May.

The funding blocks were the $24 million Broadband Challenge and the $20.7 million Community Partnerships Fund.

The Broadband Challenge aims to support initiatives to get broadband to areas that don't have it and high-speed fibre networks to urban areas.

The Community Partnerships Fund aims to support regional and community information and communications technology (ICT) initiatives to upskill people to assess and use ICT.

Mr Cunliffe said applications should be community focused and show they can be self-sustaining when funding ends.

The Digital Strategy provides a framework for $10.5 billion of expenditure for information and ICT over the next five years.

- NZPA