BT has announced Gillingham will be one of the first communities in the country to get the latest ultrafast broadband.

About 12,500 households and businesses in the town will have access to speeds of up to 330Mbps using G.fast.

The introduction of the new faster broadband connection is a key part of plans by Openreach, BT’s local network business, to connect more households and small businesses to ultrafast fibre via its open access network.

Having already committed to delivering ultrafast broadband to the majority of premises in the UK over the next decade, Openreach is building on its G.fast technology trials by making Gillingham a pilot site along with a location in Cambridgeshire.

Work on the pilots will begin very soon.

Clive Selley, from Openreach, said: “The UK is a leader when it comes to superfast broadband. Nine-out-of-10 premises have access to fibre and this will grow to 95% by the end of next year.

“I’m determined to roll out ultrafast broadband, and G.fast technology is the best way to deliver that to the majority of the UK as quickly as possible.

BT regional director Dave Axam said: “It is great news that Gillingham is at the forefront of the UK’s exciting plans for ultrafast broadband.

"Our region is in a leading position on the introduction of a new technology, which is providing a major boost for households and businesses.”

Openreach’s superfast network covers almost 25 million premises in the UK.