Google aimed to build ultrafast broadband in Britain

Google is exploring building ultrafast fibre optic networks in British cities, in a move that would add to pressure on British Telecommunications to further upgrade its ageing infrastructure.

Google has held detailed talks with a recently listed British company called CityFibre, with a view to extending its Google Fiber project outside the US for the first time. The discussions broke down amid concerns from CityFibre that an existing partnership with BSkyB would be threatened.

BSkyB and TalkTalk are funding a pilot fibre-optic network rollout in to 20,000 homes and businesses in York.