Conservative Leader Councillor Mark Weston has applauded the decision by Ministers at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to choose Bristol and BANES as one of six national trial areas for the next generation of broadband.

So-called ‘full-fibre’ networks offer connection speeds of 1,000 megabits per second (27 times faster than average download rates). In addition, this upgrade is said to result in much more reliable connectivity which, in turn, should help in the development of new ways of working.

The South West region, along with the other selected test areas (Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire; West Sussex; Coventry & Warwickshire; West Yorkshire; and Greater Manchester) will share in a £10 million funding package designed to support technological innovation.

Improved internet is seen as vital to keep the UK at the forefront of the digital economy, and to ensure that businesses offer wider services to their customers, whilst public sector organisations are better able to share information. It has also been suggested that through this medium leading education establishments will be placed to provide more distance learning to increasing numbers of students.

Cllr Weston (Con, Henbury & Brentry) said: “This investment is really great news and a strong vote of confidence in our city.

“As ever greater demands are place on the internet, and existing capacity struggles to cope, our future economic prosperity is very much dependent on such infrastructure upgrades.

“We all know only too well the frustration felt at seeing the dreaded spinning wheel of buffering or the freeze from the internet crashing. With modern devices able to do so much more than the past and video streaming, the need for speed can only more voracious.

“Thankfully the Conservative Government is determined to make such technical hindrances a thing of the past.

“I very much look forward to seeing how the proposed local projects develop and the exciting changes that this helps to bring both at home and in the ultramodern workplace.”