Essex County Council is taking legal action against broadband operator Gigaclear after three full fibre broadband contracts were left unfulfilled.
The council had awarded four contracts to Gigaclear since 2015, with the aim of providing ultrafast broadband to over 10,000 addresses.
However, three of the contracts remain unfulfilled, leaving more than 400 addresses in Braintree, Colchester, Epping Forest, and Uttlesford districts without access to ultrafast broadband.
A council spokesperson said: ‘In August 2023 we announced that we would be taking legal action against Gigaclear for breach of contract. This legal action is ongoing.’
Gigaclear CEO Nathan Rundle said: 'We are aware of the application by Essex County Council and for legal reasons it is inappropriate for us to comment at this stage.'