THE countdown to superfast broadband for Dorset has begun in earnest.

Improvements to the networks in rural parts of the county are due to begin next summer now the county has taken the first step towards finding a supplier.

Residents are being urged to help improve the county’s chances of getting the faster broadband first by registering online or by phone.

Under the Superfast Dorset project, all areas of Dorset will receive a minimum of two Megabits per second (Mbps) once the infrastructure has been installed by December, 2014.

Most of Dorset, 90 to 95 per cent, will be able to purchase packages from their supplier of at least 24 Mbps. The current average is six Mbps.

It is part of a national initiative to give the United Kingdom the best broadband infrastructure in Europe by 2015.

Dorset County Council is leading the wide-ranging project on behalf of all district and borough councils, the business community, voluntary organisations and community broadband groups.

Robert Gould, county council cabinet member for the environment, said: “We all need faster speeds to cope with the ever-changing world of technology.

“Websites are becoming increasingly interactive and households are using more devices online, such as the rise in smart TV, which make a faster and more stable broadband service essential for the future.

“People in Dorset’s rural areas are crying out for this so we really need to respond. More and more people work from home at least part-time, so getting superfast broadband in the villages is crucial. This project takes advantage of public subsidy to bring high speed broadband to areas that otherwise suppliers would ignore.

“We need to demonstrate to suppliers that people in Dorset want this. The more people who register their interest from a particular area, the more likely that area will be included.”

Residents can support the Superfast Dorset project by registering online or on the phone, or at dorsetforyou.com/ superfast or call 01305 221048.

Project Aims To Get Rural Areas Faster Internet

THE Superfast Dorset project will be at County Hall in Dorchester for the rest of the week so people can find out more about the initiative.

Project manager Peter Speroni said: “This is vital for the future of Dorset because it provides so many economic, social and educational advantages.

“At the moment the more rural you are, the worse the internet tends to be, but more people registering their interest means we can get a better deal.”

There was also a demonstration of satellite broadband by provider Avonline Broadband.

The service can deliver fast 18Mbps cable-free.