THIRTY five sites across Dorset - including 22 schools - will be among the first in the country to benefit from the government’s £5 billion full-fibre broadband project.

‘Project Gigabit’ was launched last March to improve connectivity for hard to reach homes and businesses by providing access to next-generation full-fibre broadband.

Dorset Council has received nearly £900,000 of funding as part of the scheme whilst Wessex Internet, based in Blandford, secured the contract to ‘deliver the fibre’.

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Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for Corporate, Transformation and Digital, Councillor Jill Haynes, said: “This is fantastic news for many areas of Dorset that would otherwise have been left behind as we all start to move to gigabit-capable broadband speeds.

“It will bring immediate benefit to the sites included in the plans and it will also make it easier for residents and businesses in those areas to look to upgrade their broadband one day.

“Our reliance on very good broadband speeds is only going to become more important as technology evolves and investment like this will provide certainty for these communities’ futures.”

Twenty two primary and secondary schools across Dorset are set to benefit from the scheme with the other 13 sites including Durlston Country Park, two libraries, a care home and a children’s centre. The first sites will be connected next month and all sites will receive full-fibre broadband by September 2023.

Hector Gibson Fleming, CEO of Wessex Internet, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded this contract by Dorset Council to provide a full fibre connection to important community sites across the county. Not only will 35 schools and other community facilities benefit from ultrafast and reliable connectivity, surrounding homes and businesses will also be able to get connected.”

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The £5 billion project is the biggest broadband investment in UK history and forms part of the government’s levelling-up agenda. Julia Lopez, Minister for Digital Infrastructure, said: “Thousands of hard-to-reach homes and businesses in rural Dorset will get better broadband. This initial £1 million in funding means Dorset Council can level up public services with lightning-fast internet speeds and encourages more broadband firms to build networks in the county’s rural areas.”