New ultrafast broadband, ten times faster than the UK average, is set to arrive in Eltham and Kidbrooke.

Download speeds of up to 330Mbps, capable of downloading a two hour HD film in 90 seconds, will be available to thousands of homes in the area.

Kidbrooke and Eltham are part of Openreach’s pilot programme for their G.fast technology.

Currently the fastest broadband connection with Openreach in Greenwich is a maximum of 80Mbps in over 58,000 properties.

Engineers are now travelling around the two towns to install the new ultrafast broadband, which Openreach say will take a few months.

The new technology allows ultrafast speeds that previously required fibre optic cables to be transmitted over existing copper lines.

Mark Spells, Openreach’s director for regional infrastructure delivery for the South East, said: “This is great news for Eltham and Kidbrooke it’s a real coup to be at the forefront of the rollout of ultrafast broadband.

“Now we’ve identified this latest group of pilot locations, engineers will begin installing the new network. It will take a few months before people are able to use it.”

Early trials of G.fast have taken place in Cambridgeshire, Newcastle and South Wales. A further 20 pilot schemes are already under way in different parts of the country, involving more than 100,000 homes and businesses.

Peter Bell, director for network solutions and operations for Openreach, said: “The UK is ahead of its major European neighbours when it comes to broadband and we’re doing everything we can to anticipate and meet changing customer demands.

“The development of G.fast technology is a key part of moving the UK from superfast to ultrafast broadband speeds as quickly and efficiently as possible.”