Superfast Leicestershire to bring fibre broadband to first communities

The first communities set to benefit from a high-speed fibre broadband connection under the Superfast Leicestershire rollout programme have been announced.

Villages in Charnwood, Hinckley, Bosworth, Melton, Harborough and parts of north-west Leicestershire will be first to gain access during the scheme's initial phase, which has been made possible thanks to £18.6 million of funding from local councils, network provider BT and the European Regional Development Fund.

Cabinet Member for Rural Broadband Pam Posnett commented: "Extending high-speed fibre into more rural areas will enable households to better access online movies and TV, communicate with family and friends and work more effectively from home."

Overall, Superfast Leicestershire aims to bring the high-speed technology to more than 62,000 homes and businesses located throughout the county, building on the existing fibre broadband networks rolled out by commercial operators.

Following both the local and commercial rollouts, 96 per cent of residential and commercial properties in Leicestershire should be able to connect to the superfast service.