Super-fast broadband is to be rolled out across Dorset through a £38 million investment in broadband infrastructure by the government, a windfall which the economic regeneration manager at West Dorset District Council, Ian Doyle, described as one of the biggest the region has ever seen.

Roughly 90 per cent of properties in the region should have access to next generation broadband under the terms of the scheme, benefitting the 172,670 homes in the county which are currently without an internet service provider.

The government is currently dispensing cash from a £530 million centralised fund aimed at encouraging broadband take up across the country, reports the Dorset Echo.

Mr Doyle added that the provision of super-fast broadband to the county could have a positive economic effect on business and offer essential amenities to homes.

"In the past businesses have gone elsewhere due to poor internet access, so now I hope it will keep people and business in the area," he explained.

"If it means more people stay or move here our economy will grow."

Local authorities will also make a £10 million investment in the project to demonstrate their commitment to the scheme.

Mr Doyle suggested that a great deal of the funding would go towards rural or isolated areas which have previously struggled to gain access due to a lack of commercial viability for internet service providers and expressed his gratitude to the various councils involved in coming together to ensure Dorset benefitted from the government's additional investment.

Speaking after the announcement that all local councils bar two have submitted their broadband plans in time, culture secretary Jeremy Hunt said it is important the scheme is implemented as quickly as possible.

"We cannot afford to relax - we must continue to drive forward with taking super-fast broadband to all areas of the UK," he argued.
 

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