PEOPLE working from home are to get a boost as more than 8,000 homes and businesses in Colchester are set to benefit from speedy new internet.

It comes after a new partnership between Colchester Amphora Trading and Swedish fibre operator VX Fiber was announced.

This month, VX Fiber began the creation of a full fibre open access network bringing fibre-to-the-premises deployment to homes in the Berechurch and Shrub End wards.

Colchester Amphora Trading is leading the project’s delivery on behalf of the council as part of its mission to provide full fibre broadband to the area.

It follows the council’s successful bid for £3.24 million from the Government’s Local Full Fibre Network Fund.

To supplement this, the Swedish operator is making a multi-million pound investment to help connect premises with the collaboration expected help the network reach its target of 25,000 premises.

Colchester Council leader Mark Cory welcomed the plans. He said: “VX Fiber’s investment in Colchester builds on our own council project to expand ultra-fast broadband around the town.

“This benefits the local economy, supporting businesses and residents all in one go.

“This significant investment will support the growing demands of home working and study, boost business innovation and growth and help entice digitally aware businesses into the borough.”

The announcement comes after the Government revealed Essex will benefit as part of a £5 billion broadband upgrade across the nation.

As many as 510,000 homes and businesses plagued by sluggish connection will be front of the queue as part of the Project Gigabit scheme.

The Government said firms will be able to bid for contracts on the project from spring with work set to start in the first half of next year, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said.