Rural broadband progress for Gloucestershire and Herefordshire

The future of broadband in rural parts of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire is a step closer to being made known.

Both county councils have agreed to enter into final negotiations with an unnamed supplier which wants to deliver high-speed internet to the areas.

The £35.4m Borders Broadband project is one of four national pilots to address the problem of poor broadband coverage.

Once built, the network would be used by internet service providers to sell broadand packages to customers.

The proposed supplier will now be approached by the two councils in the final stage of the selection process.

A single contract will be offered as part of the Borders Broadband project which is being led by both councils, Gloucestershire First and the government's Broadband Delivery UK unit.