East Sussex schools are to receive faster broadband connections thanks to a multimillion-pound contract between the local council and BT.

BT will work in partnership with MLL Telecom to provide 174 schools with a managed radiowave network, using a combination of fibre and antenna-based services. The project will pave the way for the adoption of videoconferencing and voice over IP technology.

The network will also be used by the main offices of East Sussex County Council (ESCC), with the option of future expansion to support up to 130 council sites.

ESCC said the deal was the most cost-effective solution for the county's schools.

'This project will provide schools with a better broadband network at exactly the same cost,' said councillor Bob Tidy, cabinet member for e-government.

'They will have vastly improved e-learning capacity without having a big slice taken off their school budgets. It will also deliver a secure network that will block unsuitable web sites getting through to schools.'