Never has faster internet been more important and now dozens of community buildings across rural north Dorset are to be connected to next generation, gigabit-capable broadband thanks to a Getting Building Fund allocation from Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Sixty community sites from Blandford to Sherborne including schools, community centres, a health centre, council depots, farms and adult social care residential homes; will be connected to world-class gigabit broadband by March 2022.

Following a competitive tender process, Blandford-based Wessex Internet has been awarded the contract to deliver full-fibre to these community buildings.

Lorna Carver, Dorset LEP director, said: “Digital connectivity has been instrumental in helping our communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and will be vital in our recovery.

“Our Local Industrial Strategy for Dorset states that by 2030 we will lead a digital and cultural transformation across all communities and projects such as this will help fulfil that ambition.”

Dorset Council’s deputy leader, Cllr Peter Wharf, said: “This is fantastic news for the communities in this area.

“It will mean some of our most rural areas, that would never be covered commercially, will be able to access the next generation of gigabit capable broadband.

“This is not only good news for the community organisations, all of which provide vital services, but also to the surrounding residents and business who will now have greater access to full-fibre infrastructure.”