MORE west Dorset communities will be able to enjoy Superfast broadband in the latest rollout of the technology.

Residents and businesses in Askerswell, Broadoak and Drimpton will be able to benefit from the new service over the next year from Superfast Dorset.

More than 800 premises in 31 areas have just been added to the Superfast Dorset roll-out plans for next year.

Dorset Superfast said the plans for next year have come as a result of the “high take up and efficiencies in delivery, which together are worth more than £1 million”.

Grant Munn, BT programme manager for Superfast Dorset, said the service was reaching more and nore communities throughout Dorset.

He said: “The Superfast Dorset programme is going from strength to strength.

“We are seeing strong take-up of fibre broadband across the county and this is helping us reach even more communities.

“BT is committed to rolling out this transformational technology as far as possible.

“Fibre broadband offers tremendous opportunities whether you are a local business seeking to attract new customers and work more efficiently, a student carrying out online research or a household using the technology for entertainment and social media purposes.”

More than 26 per cent of customers in the Superfast Dorset area have already chosen to take-up the service, triggering a ‘gainshare’ award under the terms of the contract with BT to be used to further extend the fibre roll-out.

In total during 2017, more than 4,000 Dorset premises will be provided with access to fibre broadband as a result of the Superfast Dorset programme.

Superfast Dorset is working to roll out faster, more reliable broadband to businesses and homes in the county by delivering fibre broadband in areas which fall outside the private sector’s commercial roll-out of the high-speed technology.

The Superfast Dorset project is funded by the Government, councils across Dorset and BT.

Dorset County Council cabinet member for economy and growth, Colin Jamieson, said the Superfast programme had also received a financial boost and the council was committed to ensuring all rural areas were targeted.

He said: “Under its initial contract with BT, the Superfast Dorset programme receives a refund if take-up reaches a certain point.

“As this has been achieved, the money will be used to extend the network to areas previously outside the planned coverage area which is great news.

“Investing public money in fibre broadband helps sustain our rural communities and maintains Dorset’s competitive edge as a business destination.

“It also allows homeowners to do things that need a faster internet connection like accessing skills and learning, entertainment and other social connections.”

Nine out of 10 Dorset homes and businesses can already access superfast broadband speeds of 24Mbps and above.

Mr Jamieson said the remaining areas which struggle to get sufficient bandwidth to operate efficiently will be targeted.

To check if your home or business can get fibre broadband, visit dorsetforyou.com/superfast