ANOTHER �1.4 million is to be invested in broadband by the county council in an attempt to boost coverage across Suffolk.

Next week’s cabinet meeting is expected to endorse the appointment of BT as the county’s preferred partner to bring superfast broadband to properties.

And the county is set to increase its invesment in the project from �10 to �11.7 million – a move which will attract matched funding from the government’s Broadband Development (BDUK) programme.

The extra �300,000 will come from district councils and other bodies in the county.

The move should clear the way for work to start on improving broadband coverage before the end of the year – and the roll-out should continue until early 2015.

The initial aim is to ensure that all properties in Suffolk should have broadband speeds of at least 2mbps (Megabips per second) and that 90% of properties should have speeds of at least 24mbps.

Ultimately the aim is that every property in Suffolk should have a broadband connection of at least 100mbps by 2020.

The EADT revealed on Monday that BT was the only bidder left in the process after Fujitsu pulled out of the bidding.

With its research laboratories at Adastral Park in Martlesham and its close relationship with the county with Customer Service Direct, BT was always seen as the favourite to land the Suffolk contract.

Norfolk County Council confirmed last week that BT would be its partner and the two counties have been working together on their broadband plans.