Britain's largest cable company NTL has won a £29m contract to supply broadband internet access in Cambridgeshire over eight years.

It said more than 300 locations ranging from offices, schools and libraries to pubs and post offices would be hooked up initially.

The initiative has been funded as part of the government's Pathfinder project, which aims to deliver improved "e-government" services by funding 25 projects nationwide.

NTL has been crippled by huge debts but it is expected to emerge from bankruptcy early next month.

It hopes the contract win will put it in a strong position when further British counties are wired up for high-speed internet access.

What is broadband?

Broadband is the generic name given to a method of sending and receiving data over high speed networks such as cable and ASDL.

It can offer a far faster way of connecting computers to the internet than is possible through a conventional 'dial up' method, which uses standard telephone networks.

Controversy has been caused by broadband being available only in certain areas, where service providers can make money.

In the UK, only about 14% of homes currently have broadband.