Customers have been waiting up to three months to get broadband installed.

Demand has come from increasing numbers of people working from home during Covid-19.

Manx Telecom chief executive Gary Lamb, said: ’We have seen lead times of three months because there is a big demand for fibre now. So many people working at home, people wanting better speeds. But we are making great progress and I’m confident that next year (we) will eat into these lead times.’

A Manx Telecom spokesman said: ’While we had twin challenges from the Covid-19 lockdown in terms of more demand for fibre broadband at the same time as a more limited ability to carry out engineering works, Manx Telecom is committed to accelerating the roll-out programme and has been busy putting resources into place to reduce waiting times for broadband connections.

’This includes the recruitment of 14 additional fibre engineers so far this year, with a further 16 due to start by the end of December. We have also invested in a purpose-built overhead training facility and we are developing one of our experienced engineers to become a trainer for overhead and underground safety and cabling techniques.’

The spokesman added: ’Safety is our number one priority for our engineers and our customers, so there is a huge investment in all aspects of health and safety training. Each new engineer has an eight-week training programme. By early 2021 we will be well placed to increase the number of connections we can supply as well as the roll-out programme of the fibre cables to new areas of the island. The accelerated target date for 99% of the island’s premises to have access to fibre broadband is ambitious but we are confident we have the building blocks in place to achieve it.’