West councils to launch high-speed broadband

Local authorities in South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire have joined forces in an effort to provide high-speed broadband access.

The partnership will see South Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Swindon councils aim to sign up a commercial broadband provider.

The plans fall under the government's Broadband Delivery UK project.

South Gloucestershire Council said the partnership would "enable significant savings in project costs".

The spokesman added that it hoped the larger area would be more attractive to potential bidders.

John Goddard, South Gloucestershire Council's executive member for corporate affairs, said: "This is extremely exciting news for the council and for all the businesses and households in the district who to date have been unable to get high-speed broadband from a commercial provider."