This means that the £1.7bn Superfast Broadband programme initiated by the Government Department for Culture, Media and Sports, is on track to reach at least 95 per cent of the UK by 2017.

It is particularly exciting to see homes and businesses in Buckinghamshire make the most of everything that superfast speeds have to offer. Thanks to the intervention of the Connected Counties Project, there are an additional 35,282 homes and business in the county that can now order superfast broadband. 

The rollout has reached three quarters of its target in little more than two years.  A great result! But we appreciate that it hasn’t reached everyone and will be pushing to get superfast broadband to all as soon as possible – those in rural areas in particular. Buckinghamshire Business First will be lobbying on your behalf!

Two Buckinghamshire residents are particularly pleased that they chose to upgrade to faster fibre broadband. One is Keith Milmer, community news website editor and retired management development consultant, who lives in Haddenham and David Sargent from Wendover, who oversees a team of project managers.

Keith, who updates his popular news site daily commented, “A lot of my time used to be taken up with uploading images from local events. Now it's instantaneous. For me, it’s the sheer pleasure of getting stuff online at a much quicker rate. Also, when there are two or three people online at the same time, there's no impact on speed.”

David says “I work from home a couple of days a week, where I am regularly on high definition video calls using Cisco’s WEBEX, sharing documents and sending large files. The new superfast connection has had a massive impact on my work and my productivity. I wouldn’t have been able to do this effectively without fibre. ” He added, “It has also made home life much nicer.  Before, the kids would be watching Netflix and the picture would buffer, but not with fibre broadband.  So the kids are happier. In fact, all our computers seem to work quicker as well.”

The rollout in Bucks, where coverage is very strong compared to the UK and neighbouring counties, is managed by Buckinghamshire Business First. Take up of superfast services is increasing monthly and there is a great deal of activity in the broadband marketplace at the moment. This includes technology development, further investment as well as enhancements to regulations and policy. These will be monitored closely, as implementation and the potential to secure additional funding will give further support to areas where broadband connectivity remains a significant challenge.

The latest areas in Buckinghamshire to be connected under the project include neighbourhoods in Aylesbury's Gatehouse area, Marlow, Wrexham and Lillingstone Dayrell.

In the next few months, new high speed fibre broadband roadside cabinets are scheduled to go live in Burnham, Winslow, and Eaton Bray.

• To check if you can order superfast broadband in your area visit Connected Counties Postcode/Line Checker
• For more Information on the programme including the ways superfast broadband can enable businesses to work more efficiently, improve individual and family lives go to www.connectedcounties.org
• To speak with the Project Team, call us on 01494 568942.