Broadband speeds up to 1Gbps to be offered in libraries

People visiting libraries throughout the UK will soon be able to use connection speeds as high as one gigabit per second (Gbps) as the result of a new deal.

The 'Janet' network is funded by the government and is already available to many universities and schools, but through a new arrangement with the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) the high-speed connections will be available in local libraries as well.

Speeds as high as 1Gbps could help library users browse the internet more quickly to search for jobs or research information.

High-speed broadband can also enable the more efficient use of VoIP hardware.

Roy Clare, chief executive of the MLA, said: "People and communities using public libraries across the country are set to benefit from faster broadband speeds and more digital capacity."

Virgin Media recently launched a 50 megabits-per-second (Mbps) broadband service using fibre optic cabling, but the government is targeting 2Mbps speeds for every UK household under its universal connectivity scheme.