Campaign for superfast broadband in Dorset County

Olympics games 2012 could help the homes and businesses in Dorset to get fast broadband access.

The Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in Dorset county has been chosen as one of the venues to host the sailing events.

ISP (and also one of the Olympic Games sponsors) BT will provide high-speed, fibre-optic broadband line in the venue to meet the communication needs during the events.

Dorset County Council wants to see that the benefits of superfast broadband extend beyond Weymouth and Portland and reach other towns in the county, as well as rural areas.

The Council is planning to launch a campaign for a wider fibre based broadband network all across the County with a survey to assess the demand for fast broadband services in the region.

Hi-speed digital Dorset connectivity survey, which is open to the local residents and businesses until 31st January will get the views and feedback from the participants, especially, businesses in the region.

Miles Butler, Dorset County Council director of environment was quoted by BBC News as saying:

“The support of businesses is crucial in providing a strong business case of Dorset’s potential online demand to influence BT and other communication providers to further invest in our digital infrastructure.”

Fibre broadband rollout involves huge investments and broadband providers in UK usually opt urban areas where the higher demand ensures the returns for the high cost projects.

The government’s Digital Britain has pledged 2Mb broadband for all Brits and also proposed GBP 6 annual broadband tax on landline users to build the infrastructure in rural areas.

Many rural areas in UK receive broadband speeds less than 2Mbps, according to a last year survey. Rural businesses were found to be worse hit

The study also revealed that economy and businesses in rural Britain need a big broadband boost in terms of private investments.