THE roll-out of the multi-million pound Superfast Dorset project is almost two-thirds complete.

More than 55,000 households and businesses now have access to high-speed broadband for the first time in rural areas in Dorset, the county council has revealed.

It is hoped that 90,000 houses will have access to high-speed internet once the project finishes in 2017, and the announcement comes on the same day as the Government stated the nationwide rollout of superfast broadband has now passed more than three million homes and businesses.

Availability of the technology is increasing rapidly throughout Dorset’s rural areas with Cattistock, Holt, Iwerne Minster, Langton Matravers and Yetminster some of the newest communities to get connected.

Coverage in Dorset’s towns is also expanding as the programme builds on the work of the private sector’s rollout of high-speed broadband.

Digital Economy Minister Ed Vaizey today paid tribute to the Superfast Dorset programme. He said: "We are transforming the digital landscape of the UK and our nationwide rollout of superfast broadband has now reached an additional three million UK homes and businesses.

“I congratulate Superfast Dorset on having reached more than 55,000 properties in Dorset so far — they’re making incredible progress."

If there is higher than expected take up of the technology by local households and businesses, then BT will make more funding available to allow Superfast Dorset to rollout fibre broadband even further.

Among the locations where take up is particularly high is the hamlet of Mannington where nearly 60 per cent of people have chosen to connect to fibre broadband.

Many residents in the hamlet have seen broadband speeds increase from less than 1Mbps to up to 80Mbps since fibre broadband went live in the hamlet last year.

Mannington resident David Baker, a volunteer for the project, talked to his neighbours about the benefits a better connection brings and how to sign up for a fibre broadband service.

Mr Baker said: “It’s a question of telling people it’s there and helping them understand the technology and its benefits.

“For us, it was either get fibre broadband or get nothing at all. I couldn’t get broadband on a phone line at all. I was using a dongle and the signal was not reliable. The extra speed and reliability is making a real difference.”

Robert Gould, Dorset County Council leader, said: “Seeing Superfast Dorset reach this important milestone gives me great confidence in the programme, and we need to drive take up to make sure people benefit.

“The aim of this project is to drive economic growth, and when we see businesses switching to fibre we know that they will make efficiencies and improvements that will boost their bottom line.”

Paul Coles, BT regional manager for the South West said: “Today marks important milestones, both locally and nationally, for the superfast broadband revolution. This exciting technology is transforming the opportunities for communities across Dorset and the UK as a whole.”