VIRGIN Media is to bring fibre-optic broadband to large parts of Swindon in a move that will undoubtedly be seen as a blow to the recently launched Superfast Swindon project.

The firm has announced it will be offering its fibre optic network to 7,000 homes and businesses across the town as part of a £3bn expansion programme.

The announcement comes just a week after Superfast Swindon, a council-backed project that uses 4G wireless internet to reach homes without access to the fastest broadband speeds, launched itself to the public.

The Superfast Swindon project is being run by UKBN who will install and maintain the infrastructure with sales packages currently provided by five separate retailers.

UKBN were the only company to submit a bid that met Swindon Borough Council’s requirements and an argument was made that a wireless solution was the best option as the big players were unlikely to see a good business case for digging and laying fibre-optic cabling.

But in the months since the deal was signed, at a cost of £1.78 million from the council, both BT and Virgin Media have made moves that challenge that logic.

BT announced a trial for Haydon Wick in February and now Virgin have gone one step further in announcing a full rollout of their service.

The required work will start in the next two months and will be completed by early 2017.

A significant part of the build will take place in north-west Swindon covering the Haydon, Priory Vale and Blunsdon St Andrew areas.

Network gaps will also be filled throughout Swindon in areas including Greenmeadow, Old Town, Toothill and Eastleaze.

Paul Buttery, chief operating officer at Virgin Media, said: “The calls from residents in Swindon for better, faster broadband have been heard and Virgin Media will soon be bringing our ultrafast connectivity and top-notch entertainment to more parts of the town.

“Given that public funding has been used in some areas of Swindon to fund a mobile broadband solution, it’s vital that local authorities properly assess the prospect of private investment before using taxpayer’s money to fund broadband rollout.”

The planned fibre-optic service should see homes receive broadband speeds of up to 200Mbps as well as a wide range of TV packages, an element that some residents have said is a disadvantage with the alternative 4G-based offering.

Justin Tomlinson, MP for North Swindon, said: “This is a significant and very much welcome boost for fellow Swindon residents.

“There is absolutely no doubt there will be huge demand, especially as for many it will be the first time they have access to genuinely superfast fibre broadband.”

Coun Toby Elliott, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member responsible for superfast broadband, said: "Residents and businesses across the town have been calling for this quality, high speed, fibre broadband for some time.

"Justin Tomlinson MP, the ward councillors and myself have worked with Virgin Media for over a year to deliver this and I couldn't be more delighted about their investment in Swindon."