WORCESTER-based Airband have announced a major contract with Connecting Devon and Somerset (CDS) to provide thousands more homes and businesses with superfast broadband.

CDS, the government-led partnership, has signed a £7 million investment deal with Airband, based in St Mary's Street, that will give 13,000 rural homes and businesses in some of the hardest to reach areas of Devon, Somerset and Bath the opportunity of broadband speeds of at least 30Mbps.

The equipment used by Airband is locally researched and designed with the unique landscape of the South West in mind.

Redmond Peel, managing director of Airband, said: “Our whole ethos is focused on getting good value, high speed, quality broadband to the hardest to reach parts of the country, helping to tackle the digital divide between rural and urban areas.

"The technology is completely future-proofed so speeds will only increase in years to come.

“Our Dartmoor and Exmoor project has been both enjoyable and successful, and we're wholly delighted to be contributing to the rollout of superfast broadband across further areas of Devon."