£2 million plans for superfast Telford broadband

It will allow 96 per cent of homes and businesses in the borough instant access to the internet.

Telford & Wrekin Council is to apply for the cash from the Government's Broadband Delivery UK fund.

Under the plans broadband coverage would improve to more than 24 megabits per second, ensuring that home users of the internet will be able to download films and music in moments.

And it will further enhance Telford's claim to be one of the UK's fastest growing towns for new businesses.

In order to secure the £2m funding allocation, Telford & Wrekin Council will need to match fund the sum and said it has already made £1.4 million available.

The total costs of delivering the scheme are estimated to be £200,000 so the council's total contribution if successful would be £2.2m.

The council will submit a bid for the balance of funding to the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership, although a decision is not expected for several months.

Councillor Charles Smith, Telford & Wrekin cabinet member for development, said the new funding would add to investment in broadband in 2011, adding: "This will help businesses and residents reduce operational costs and access the fastest available broadband.

"It will encourage greater e-commerce and interaction through digital communications, which have expanded significantly since the 2011 programme."

Parts of Telford already have some of the UK's fastest broadband speeds.

Woodside is the street with the fastest broadband in the UK.

Residents on the street can reach up to 71Mbps – which means in practice that a music album can be downloaded in just 11 seconds and a two-hour film in two minutes 49 seconds.

But in other parts of Telford the coverage is far slower, a problem that is hindering businesses.

The situation is particularly patchy in more rural areas within the borough.

Chris Pallett, owner of Telford-based Bespoke Computing, welcomed today's announcement, but said any updating of broadband must be seen to be of real benefit to the borough's economy.

He said: "On one hand infrastructure needs upgrading so investment is great and Telford & Wrekin Council should proceed with it as there will be benefits.

"But on the other hand I am not sure if it is a good way to use tax payers money as there has already been investment and improvements of broadband."

He said Telewest ad BT had done much work and the town's Donnington exchange has improved coverage.

But he said new investment should tackle blackspots like Hortonwood Business Park where coverage is poor.