These are the key facts about Harrogate's 'revolutionary' new broadband

The development has been hailed as a major step forward for the Harrogate district, with Ripon and Knaresborough also set to benefit from the FibreNation project being delivered by TalkTalk over the next two to two-and-a-half years.

Work has already started on the rollout in Bilton, with Starbeck set to follow suit in the coming months.

Pictured at this weeks launch are FibreNation workmen John Robson and Paul Russell, Head of Ultrafast Engagement and Rollout at FibreNation Paul Crane, Deputy Leader of Harrogate Borough Council, Coun Graham Swift and Coun Don Mackenzie of North Yorkshire County Council.

The news has already been welcomed by a number of business leaders in the town, including representatives from the Harrogate District Chamber of Commerce, as well as the county council and borough council.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for access, Coun Don Mackenzie, said: “We welcome this further investment in the county’s digital infrastructure, which comes at the same time as our Local Full Fibre Networks project is underway throughout North Yorkshire.

“Alongside North Yorkshire County Council’s Superfast North Yorkshire programme, which has brought high quality broadband to more than 175,000 businesses and households, we welcome FibreNation’s substantial investment in Harrogate district and in the ever-expanding local digital economy.”

Harrogate Borough Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development Coun Graham Swift, said: “The announcement of full-fibre arriving in Harrogate is a major step forward towards our ambition to make Harrogate District smart and fit for the 2020s.

"It follows a UK-leading smart parking initiative in 2019 and further investment will support the town culturally and economically. I look forward to the rollout reaching Knaresborough and Ripon.”

A spokesperson for the FibreNation project confirmed: “We are working with local authorities regarding the build schedule, but we envisage the vast majority of homes and business within the urban area will receive the service in the next two to two-and-a-half years.”

A Harrogate business leader has said the imminent arrival of the revolutionary ‘speed of light’ broadband in the town will have an enormous impact.