Almost 20 South Norfolk villages approved, but 15 still wait for full-fibre broadband

Work to build next-generation full-fibre broadband is due to start in 18 villages across south Norfolk this month.

A £46million scheme will put villages in South Norfolk among the top 12% for fastest internet (up to 1,000Mbps) in the UK.

County Broadband, a specialist rural full-fibre network and broadband provider, announced that 18 villages – including Banham, Bressingham, North Lopham, Shelfanger and Winfarthing – have been earmarked to receive the infrastructure, which is hope to be ready by spring next year.

The multimillion pound project – funded by a private investment from insurance company Aviva – requires 30 per cent of residents give their backing online before a village is accepted.

A further 15 villages – including Blo’ Norton, Harling, and Snetterton – are yet to meet that threshold, but County Broadband predict they will have the necessary support by early next year.

Nicki Thurgar, a wedding photographer from Kenninghall, one of the villages to have signed up, said the new Hyperfast network will have an “amazing” impact on her work and family life.

The mum-of-two said: “We’re often left incredibly frustrated by our slow speeds due to the village’s old copper network.

“With the Covid-19 pandemic and variable restrictions on weddings, it has been a challenge and I’ve had to adapt, so from a business perspective, the full-fibre network can’t be built quick enough.

“It’ll transform the productivity and efficiency for so many sole traders and remote workers in the village. We’re expecting the network to be like ‘wow, that’s amazing’ when it goes live.

“We can’t wait.”