Superfast Dorset is urging more businesses to check if they can get superfast or full fibre broadband to help them improve their overall performance and customer service.
More than 97 per cent of homes and businesses can now get superfast broadband and 60 per cent connected through the programme have taken a service. These faster, more reliable connections mean everyone can be online at the same time, have quicker downloads, TV and films on demand and video calling can operate without the annoying lag.
Three per cent of Dorset premises can get full fibre broadband which provides gigabit-capable connectivity – the fastest available anywhere in the UK – with more becoming available every month
Matthew Galley, Partnership Director, Openreach said: “We’ve worked really hard with our partners at Dorset Council to bring better broadband to thousands of homes and businesses in the county. Recent research shows that connecting everyone in Dorset and the wider South West to full fibre broadband would create a £4.3 billion boost to the region’s economy by unlocking smarter ways of working, better public services and greater opportunities for the next-generation of home-grown businesses.”
The recent move to full fibre has transformed the RNLI Lifeboat Station at Swanage, making it one of the best-connected lifeboat stations in the country. Its download service is 20 times faster than previously and its upload service is 50 times faster. The station regularly uploads video footage of the lifeboats battling the waves for the BBC2 documentary ‘Saving Lives at Sea’ which follows the men and women of the RNLI.
Photo Caption: Made of the right fibre: the volunteers of the RNLI Lifeboat Station at Swanage busy saving lives at sea.
Dave Turnbull, station coxswain, said: “Until recently we had to put video hard drives in the post and now our volunteers can upload straight to the RNLI’s central video library. The new fibre connection has reduced the time it takes dramatically. It’s like the difference between light and dark.”
The station can now also download electronic chart updates quicker and hopes to add a live video camera feed so that people can check the weather before they go out to sea.
Dave said: “We are here to save lives at sea and if we can make some of the admin tasks our volunteers carry out quicker and easier that allows them more of their time to focus on lifesaving. We consider ourselves incredibly lucky to have a fibre to the premises service.”
To check if fibre broadband is already available in your area or if you are in our plans visit https://mapping.dorsetforyou.gov.uk/superfast/Checker
Check your speed at https://www.dslchecker.bt.com
Take a look at the new RNLI live webcam – https://www.swanagelifeboat.org.uk/webcam
If you need a little help using computers or the internet phone 01305 221048 and Superfast Dorset will match you with one of its Digital Champion volunteers in your area.
Our flats have fibre optic cables laid on our road but Virgin aren’t prepared to connect us. So near and yet so far!