Broadband landmark as 97% of West Yorkshire gets connected

In data released by the country’s Department for Culture, Media & Sport, the rollout of the government-funded superfast broadband has now reached more than three million homes and businesses providing a spur to the adoption of services such as IPTV and online video in general.

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.

Government stats claim that more than 80% of UK homes and businesses already have access to superfast speeds, and the rollout is now reaching an additional 40,000 properties every week.

Ian Gray, chair of the Superfast West Yorkshire project board, said: “It is great to have passed the finish line on this first phase of the project, and to have delivered above target, reaching nearly 65,000 homes and businesses”. “People are really happy with it now”.

Yet despite the optimism, a note of caution was struck by politicians and cable consumer groups, and a number of rural MPs have contested the claims made by the government and BT as to how easy fast broadband was to acquire in their constituencies.

However, Neville Gaunt, the policy leader for Federation of Small Businesses in Kent, said companies who have not been reached face losing out to opposition who already have high speed broadband. High take up in Woolsbridge and other business estates is a promising trend that we hope will continue throughout Dorset. We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. This exciting technology is transforming the opportunities for communities across Dorset and the UK as a whole.

Broadband Delivery UK (BDUK), the government’s nationwide superfast broadband programme, has hit another milestone after passing its three millionth property. Our engineers are rolling out the technology at a world class pace, reaching thousands more premises across the region every week.

Councillor David Southward, the authority’s cabinet member responsible for economic development, said: “This money is a bit like a reward for delivering superfast fibre broadband on track and on time and surpassing the original expectations on how many people will be signing up to fibre”.

Dave Axam, BT’s south east regional director, said: ‘Successful broadband partnerships are creating a lasting legacy, which will play a key role in the future prosperity of communities for many years to come’.