Deal reached in row over rural broadband failures

A settlement deal has been reached in a dispute between a local authority and a broadband provider.

Essex County Council brought legal action against Gigaclear last July after it failed to provide almost 400 rural homes with ultrafast broadband.

The company had been awarded four contracts in 2015 to build a full fibre network across Braintree, Colchester, Epping and Uttlesford.

A joint statement did not provide details of the settlement agreement, but said Gigaclear was "committed to expanding the network" over the next 18 months.

The firm, based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, had been accused of breaching three of its four contracts.

Those deals were expected to bring ultrafast broadband to more than 10,000 addresses across Essex.

It came as part of the previous government's superfast broadband scheme, which was branded Superfast Essex locally.

But a total of 381 homes have been left without the service as a result of delays, with Great Dunmow and Thaxted being the worst affected areas.

A statement on behalf of both the council and Gigaclear confirmed the parties had agreed a settlement.

"The council welcomes Gigaclear's continued investment and broadband rollout in the region," it said.

"This news is especially positive for residents who experience a lack of broadband connectivity in the affected areas."

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