Govt funding to bring fibre broadband to Dorset

Fibre optic broadband is set to be deployed in Dorset thanks to newly announced government funding.

The south-west county has been awarded £9.4 million of public money as part of the Conservative-led coalition's £530 million national rollout scheme. It is hoped that the cash will help to extend super-fast services to 90 per cent of properties in the area.

After spending months working on a bid to secure the funding, Dorset County Council has welcomed the announcement from Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, reports the Dorset Echo.

Leader of the local authority Angus Campbell said the £9.4 million is roughly what the council was expecting to receive from the government.

"Giving everyone in the county, particularly rural communities, a decent broadband connection is a priority for the county council as it is an essential ingredient for future prosperity," he added.

Elsewhere in the West Country, Devon and Somerset were awarded more than £31 million and Gloucestershire was allocated just over £8 million.