Fibre optic broadband goes live in 3 Derbyshire communities

Three Derbyshire communities have become some of the first parts of the UK to receive access to fibre optic cable broadband.

More than 36,000 homes and businesses in Dronfield, Mickleover and Swadlincote can now connect to the technology following the completion of work by BT engineers, the Derby Evening Telegraph reports.

The service offers faster speeds to subscribers in the area as the fibre optic cables do not slow information down the further a property is from the exchange.

Regional partnerships director at BT Paul Bimson said the deployment will boost employment and the economy.

"We are open to holding discussions to explore ways of bringing super-fast broadband to locations where the economics are more challenging," he added.

Campaign group Lightspeed Derby has been established to lobby telecoms providers and the government to bring improved internet access to the city.

Its goals include 100 per cent coverage of properties in the area by 2016.