Battle of the broadband in Milton Keynes? But the future looks brighter - and speedier

According to documents seen by this newspaper Milton Keynes Council, and confirmed by a source, the local authority is on the brink of a deal with a private company to bring ultra-fast fibre broadband to businesses in CMK.

Speeds of around 1,000mbps are being spoken of, which is in the order of three times as fast as the maximum connections currently seen in parts of the city.

The possibility of there being, for the first time, deadly serious competition to mega provider BT, is also causing ripples of excitement.

If the new kids on the city’s blocks are successful in their launch, understood to be later in the summer, then they may introduce it into other parts.

Meanwhile, Milton Keynes Council has been working with Openreach, a part of the BT group, to solve technical difficulties and extend superfast fibre broadband to 2,500 more homes and businesses.

The premises across MK were previously unable to access fibre broadband even though some of their neighbours could. This is because they needed a different kind of connection.

Around 95 per cent of all properties in Milton Keynes now have access to superfast fibre broadband.

Residents have been advised to ask their supplier to connect it for them as this is not done automatically.

Councillor Rob Middleton, the council’s commercialism supremo, said progress is gathering pace but “still more needs to be done”.

He urged residents to contact their service providers and ask about switching. He said this was the “main thing holding speeds back” from the 300mb currently available.