BROADBAND bosses are ramping up the rollout of ultrafast connections in Braintree in a bid to connect the town to surrounding villages.

Broadband company Gigaclear has announced plans to connect Rayne and Great Notley to Braintree for an ultrafast full-fibre broadband network is progressing.

The company already set up a network throughout much of rural Essex but is now expanding its existing network on a commercial basis to underserved market towns in the county, where internet speeds are still extremely poor.

Braintree’s existing broadband speeds are around 48.06Mbps, well below the national average of 80Mbps plus.

Gigaclear says its full-fibre upgrade has already brought speeds of up to 900Mbps to 3,000 homes and businesses in Braintree, and a further 17,000 are set to be connected.

In total the project will require more than 100,000 metres of fibre which will be laid via trenching as well as through existing duct and pole infrastructure.

The Gigaclear team will be present in the town over the next five weeks.

Starting at Braintree Bandstand on Wednesday, September 15, the team moved to the High Street.

Nick Rawlings, Chief Marketing Officer said: “We’ve been building our network in rural Essex where we’ve focussed on bridging the digital divide and addressing inadequate broadband provision.

"Now that we’ve got a well-established network here, we are turning our attention to its other areas like Braintree, which are crying out for better internet.

"Our teams are on the ground for the next five weeks and we are excited to meet potential new customers and discuss their broadband needs.

“Our speeds are game changing and fast broadband speeds are a necessity for a modern economy.

"We believe in digital inclusion for all, and we’re excited to bring our network to more people so they can enjoy the life-changing benefits that come with world-leading connectivity.”

Cllr Tom Cunningham, Cabinet Member for Economic Growth at Braintree District Council, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has reinforced how vital it is for our communities to have access to faster and reliable broadband.

"Thanks to the work of suppliers such as Gigaclear, more homes and businesses in our district are able to get connected – helping people have better online access to services, to work and learn from home, whilst also supporting economic activity.”

The expansion to Braintree is expected to be completed by October 2022.