Fibre broadband by Christmas for more Dorset residents

Christmas might be six months away, but homes and businesses in Dorset may already be thinking about one of the presents they are going to get this year, as it has been announced fibre broadband will be delivered to those in Dorchester and Weymouth by the festive season.

The Superfast Dorset rollout programme has announced the next local areas in line to receive the high-speed technology, with premises in Abbotsbury, Maiden Newton, Martinstown, Upwey, Warmwell, Preston and Puddletown top of the list for phase two of the project.

Phase one has been centred around Charmouth and Wootton Fitzpaine, with properties in these areas set to gain access to better broadband this summer.

Councillor Jill Haynes commented: "Gaining access to the fibre network will be a huge opportunity for residents and businesses in these communities."

Superfast Dorset was only launched last year, but aims to bring fibre optic broadband to 95 per cent of residential and commercial properties in the county before the end of 2016.

Network provider BT's Openreach engineers have been working to upgrade green roadside cabinets throughout Dorset to receive the superfast service, thanks to £31.75 million of investment in the project's delivery.