The city of Leeds is to become one of the first in the UK to get access to superfast broadband.

Local telecoms firm aql is planning to roll out a high-speed fibre network throughout the city’s business district.

The company claims it can offer neighbouring businesses internet speeds of up to 100 megabits per second, which it says is 10 times faster than the national average.

Aql operates several exchange sites around the UK, including a fibre network between Leeds and London.

The service is currently confined to The Calls area of the city, where internet pioneer Freeserve started out and still popular with the city’s media and marketing agencies.

Aql is planning to expand is network throughout Leeds city centre this year.

“This model allows many businesses to get a head start on their competitors, reaping the advantages of high-speed-working long before the delivery of the Digital Britain promise,” said aql managing director Adam Beaumont.

“Smart businesses already realise the advantages of not waiting for their mail to download or for a file to transfer.”