AFTER being snubbed by the broadband giants, Whiteley is now being fought over by two high- speed Internet connection companies.

A public meeting has been called so residents and businesses can choose between the two suppliers after it looked like the mini town would be overlooked.

business leaders, councillors and locals have been calling for a high-speed connection - which they say is vital - for years.

It will mean business can be done quicker, allow people to work from home easing road congestion and help leisure time users of the Net.

The major suppliers refused to lay cable or copper cables in Whiteley meaning that a satellite solution had to be found.

Now after years of searching Whiteley resident and leader of Fareham council Sean Woodward has found two prospective suppliers and asked them to go head to head on Friday, April 30 at 7.30pm in the Whiteley Community Centre at a public meeting.

He said: "This is very exciting for Whiteley. We have now got an embarrassment of riches with two companies after no one seemed to want to do it.

"We have got a very young population, most people are working and would like the convenience of working from home but you can't do that at the moment.

"There are bound to be benefits for the business park as well which is only going to expand."

The two companies who will do battle are SatNet and X-Broad-band. People can pick the scheme which best suits their needs.