Remote areas in Teesdale which had been stuck with slow dial-up connection, would get access to high-speed broadband, it was reported.

The members of Durham County Council have agreed to spend more than £50,000 on this project that would put the provision of broadband out to tender.

Some of the top ISPs to submit tenders for the scheme could be Durham Net, Barnard Castle Vision and BT.

It is suggested that a high-speed wireless network is a viable solution to cover many remote areas in dales that currently use dial-up connetivity.

Council’s research wing,Teesdale Action Partnership (Tap) states that lack of fast broadband service is placed among one of the top priorites that the Council needs to look after.

Lack of adequate broadband infrastructure remains a critical disadvantage for educational and businesse communities in remote and rural areas. Despite the government’s proposals for 2Mbps broadband for all in two years from now, the Commission for Rural Communities says that more than 2 million internet users in rural UK currently get speeds less than 512Kbps.