Dorset Council Reveals First Areas for BDUK and BT Fibre Broadband

The state aid supported £31.75m Superfast Dorset project in southern England has today announced the first areas that can expect to benefit from an upgrade to BT’s fibre optic based (FTTC/P) broadband network, which aims to cover 97% of the county by late 2016 (note: 95% will get superfast speeds of 25Mbps+).

The update reveals that Phase 1 of the roll-out will focus on upgrading 10,000 local homes and businesses, with the first premises expected to go live by the end of June 2014 (although their website contradicts the press update by saying September 2014). In any case the work is expected to commence from April 2014.

Superfast Dorset – Phase 1 Coverage
Bridport
Charmouth
Chideock
Weymouth
Ferndown
Three Legged Cross
Verwood

As usual not all of the related areas will be completed during the initial phase of deployment but the project will circle back later. Similarly some of the areas, such as Verwood and Weymouth, already have access to BT’s up to 80Mbps capable FTTC network and in those locations Openreach will be concentrating on infill work (i.e. extending the existing networks reach).

Bill Murphy, MD of BTs NGA Division, said:

“Today’s announcement is a major step forward in a multi million pound partnership, which will help transform broadband communications in Dorset. This exciting technology will provide a major boost for local businesses and households whether they are seeking to attract new customers and become more competitive or simply using the internet for educational and leisure purposes. Whatever you do online you can do it better with fibre broadband.”

Dorset also has one of the better and more detailed deployment maps and the one for Bridport is also handy.