The Government has allocated 14 million to UK 10 cities to help speed up the deployment of superfast broadband networks.
The Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) said the funding would help provide businesses in those cities with ultrafast broadband of at least 80-100Mbps.
The 10 cities granted funding are: London, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Newcastle, and Belfast.
"Fast broadband is essential for growth, and is key to the country's economic future," Culture Secretary Maria Miller said.
"These ten cities have produced ambitious and comprehensive plans, which will turn them into digital leaders, and give their local economies a real boost."
The new investment will help put these cities at the centre of the digital stage, competing for jobs and investment with the best in the world."
London has been allocated the most funding (25 million), while Leeds and Bradford, have been offered a joint grant of 14.4m.
The Government will also provide a further 50 million, which a further 27 cities will have the opportunity to bid for during a second funding round.
News of the funding comes hot on the heels of the announcement by DCMS that broadband cables and street cabinets could soon be installed, except on Sites of Special Scientific Interest, without the approval of local councils.
