WORK is set to get underway this month on providing high-speed broadband to more than 1,000 homes and businesses in Ilchester.

Full-fibre broadband is set to arrive in the town after work by network provider Gigaclear as part of a £58 million infrastructure boost in Somerset.

The first homeowners are expected to have access to ultrafast broadband speeds by spring next year, with the build due for completion by the autumn.

Senior project manager, Glenn Ellis, said: “We’re already taking our full fibre network to more than 5,000 homes in Yeovil and next we’ll be heading north to Ilchester.

“We know there are many great benefits to living in rural communities but having access to fast and reliable broadband is not always something you’d expect.

“People living in towns and cities, on average, enjoy much faster speeds than people in rural locations and Gigaclear is on a mission to reduce this gap.

“Taking our full fibre network to residents in rural communities such as Ilchester will ensure they’re able to work from home, stream online entertainment, scroll and gameplay just like everyone else.”

During the engineering work, Gigaclear will be utilising existing Openreach ducts and poles wherever possible in order to minimise disruption.

For more information, visit www.gigaclear.com.