A friendly new face is showing people in Dorset how easy it is to get better broadband.
Digital Norm is a fun character developed by the Superfast Dorset programme. His family switches to superfast broadband and saves money at the same time.
Norm has been appearing in town centres, local newspapers, on council buses and social media. And there’s an online animation showing how Norm and his family transform their home WiFi.
More than 97 per cent of Dorset premises can now get superfast fibre broadband and over half of homes and businesses have already switched, making it the norm in Dorset
These faster, more reliable connections mean everyone can be online at the same time, quicker downloads, TV and films on demand and video calling without the annoying lag.
But the uplift in speeds isn’t automatic – you must contact your internet provider and ask to switch to fibre broadband.
Superfast Dorset won Government funding to create the Digital Norm campaign including the short film, which can be seen on the Superfast Dorset website.
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.
Think we were one of the first, if not the THE first to get fibre to the house in Old Pound Close, Lytchett Matravers. It has transformed our lives. After 25 years and two box files of correspondence with BT about our poor services over aluminium and copper wires we now have the fastest possible speed. This is thanks to Dorset 4 You funding and pushing hard by our Parish and MP. Otherwise our road was not going to be upgraded. We were lucky as our supplier was BT so we could change immediately. It is super fantastic and worth every penny it costs!
Hi Ros. That is great to hear. We are glad you are enjoying your broadband service.
Hello, Lucky Pound Close Lytchett Matravers!
We live in the small rural community in Throop, who are surrounded by other villages, Bere regis, Briantspuddle and Bovington who all have access to fast Baordband.
However for circa 30 houses, our service is abysmal with speeds of between .05 and .5 on very rare occasions. We applied for a community Fibre quote, which has come back at almost £4000 per household!! What do we do next?? Any help with grants would be very much appreciated.
Hi Vivienne
Taking fibre broadband to remote areas such as Throop is expensive, but we are doing all we can with the funding available. If a business operates from one or more of the 30 properties you mention it may be worth looking at the Government’s Gigabit Broadband Voucher scheme. This provides up to £2,500 per premise towards full fibre connections. Details at https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/business-consumers-licences/superfast-dorset/other-ways-to-get-better-broadband/gigabit-broadband-voucher-scheme.aspx
Alternatively, your speeds mean you would qualify for help from the Better Broadband Voucher Scheme. This provides a voucher worth up to £350 to install basic broadband using non-fibre technologies into homes and businesses. Full details at https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/business-consumers-licences/superfast-dorset/other-ways-to-get-better-broadband/better-broadband-voucher-scheme.aspx
Superfast Dorset
HELLO – WE LIVE IN GREENHILL, SHERBORNE. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAVE NOT YET BEEN CONNECTED TO ‘FIBRE’ – WE SEEM TO BE OUT OF REACH HERE – I WORK FROM HOME AND FIND THIS CONSTANT ‘DROPPING OUT’, TO SAY THE LEAST, EXTREMELY ANNOYING AND DISRUPTIVE TO MY WORK!
Hi Ron
The cabinet to which your property is connected was provided by Openreach as part of its commercial programme. Unfortunately, Government rules mean we are not allowed to intervene in commercial areas through our publicly-funded contracts.
The Government is, however, currently operating the Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme. This provides funding for businesses and surrounding homes to contract with a commercial provider (including Openreach) to provide future-proof full fibre connections, providing some of the fastest speeds in the UK.
More details on the scheme can be seen at https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/business-consumers-licences/superfast-dorset/other-ways-to-get-better-broadband/gigabit-broadband-voucher-scheme.aspx
Superfast Dorset
Living in a residential area of Bridport I get speeds of only 11bps. Why? When can I expect least the national average? A cabinet has been installed approximately 100m from my home.
I have been asking my supplier for 18 months, only to be told, constantly, to try asking again in two weeks time.
Hi Eugene, can you email us your full address and we can advise what speeds you should be getting. Our email is connectingdorset@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk