More than 7,000 Dorset homes and businesses will be the first in the country to receive next generation broadband through the government’s £5 billion Project Gigabit programme.
The government has awarded the contract to Blandford-based Wessex Internet to deliver the roll-out which takes in parts of north and east Dorset.
It is expected the first homes and businesses will be connected by the end of this year, with the roll-out completed by 2025.
Dorset Council worked closely with the government to help identify the areas in the county in need of improved broadband.
Cllr Jill Haynes, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Corporate Development and Transformation, said: “This significant government investment in Dorset is great news for communities and businesses that would otherwise have been left behind as the country moves to gigabit-capable broadband.
“Good broadband connection has never been more important as we rebuild the economy after the pandemic.
“We look forward to working with Wessex Internet and the government on this exciting development in technology, which will greatly benefit some of the most rural parts of our county.”
There will be a second phase of Project Gigabit for rural areas in the rest of Dorset that are not included in commercial broadband plans.
The procurement process for this is expected to launch at the end of September 2023.
Anyone with poor broadband who would like further advice can email the council’s digital team at connectingdorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk
Is it possible for you to provide postcode details of areas that are likely to benefit from “Project Gigabit” together with potential timescales
Best Regards
Hi Martin, we cannot provide postcode level detail as we do not have that data available to us. The government, which is managing the project, has provided a map that shows the areas included, which you can see here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/project-gigabit-network-build-contract-north-dorset and Wessex Internet, which has won the contract, has a postcode checker on its website – so if you fall within that area you can go on to Wessex Internet’s website which will let you know if fibre is due to come to you. The roll-out is due to get underway at the end of this year and will be completed by 2025 – http://www.wessexinternet.com
Well this is nice for them.
We are between two villages, less a mile from each and we are lucky to get 20mbps.
We are not considered rural, so nobody seems interested in us!
Hi Sandra, please email connectingdorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk and we will look into this for you in more detail. Kind regards, Rachel
This article would be much be more informative if it described where the homes and businesses are that are going to benefit. Phrases such as ‘more than 7,000 Dorset homes and businesses’ and ‘Dorset council worked closely with the government to help identify the areas in the county in need of improved broadband’ leaves the reader wondering where these are?
Hi Andrew, the areas in this first phase are in north and east Dorset. You can see a map of the area here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/project-gigabit-network-build-contract-north-dorset and Wessex Internet, which has won this government contract, has a postcode check on its website which will inform people in these areas if they are due to receive full fibre http://www.wessexinternet.com
Read this, did I blink and miss the news bit of this “article” name checking a councillor was all it did. Is this sort of stuff worth paying council tax for? I think not
My address is bh228se East Dorset when will I have this fast broadband? Many thanks Graham
Hi Graham, Giganet has recently announced plans it is rolling out full fibre to the Ferndown area. You can check if your address is included by going to their website https://www.giganet.uk/