Nine Suffolk villages are set to benefit from new high-speed broadband, to help ensure communities aren’t "left behind".

A new kind of broadband technology is being installed to replace outdated Victorian copper cables.

The new full fibre network will provide speeds of up to 1,000 Mbps, 11 times faster than the 'Superfast' broadband in the area.

The villages to benefit are Bentley, Brantham, Capel St Mary, Copdock, Washbrook, Layham, Nayland-with-Wissington, Raydon, and Stratford St Mary.

The new network, provided by County Broadband, will use fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) technology, where fibre optic cables are installed directly into properties.

It will replace the existing 'Superfast' networks which rely on fibre-to-the-cabinet (FTTC) Victorian copper-based structures, which the government has said are no longer fit for purpose.

Christopher Hudson, county councillor for Belstead Brook, which covers Copdock and Washbrook, said: "It is great news. I have always regarded broadband as important as all the other utilities in the house. We seem to depend more on interconnectivity and broadband.

"It is like the fourth emergency service. It's vital, especially with working from home. I think it has been patchy in the area. We are on the outskirts of Ipswich.

"That connectivity needs rolling out over the county. It is vital that it is done."

James Salmon, director of sales and new territories at County Broadband, added: “We’re pleased to be kicking off construction of our new full fibre networks across these nine Suffolk villages. It’s clear from the homes and businesses we speak to that the existing copper-based infrastructure simply can’t keep up with modern demands from remote working, and streaming to accessing online services.

“Building these networks is a complex process which takes time, it doesn’t happen overnight. That’s why it’s essential we start future-proofing communities today to ensure they aren’t left behind over the coming years as the way we live and work continues to evolve."