PLANS to rollout ultrafast broadband to thousands more homes and businesses across Dorset have been welcomed by county chiefs.

The £7.4 million project, which should extend the fibre broadband network to more than 3,800 premises, is set to be completed by summer 2019.

It will be undertaken by BT and aims to ensure the majority of premises can access full fibre, capable of download speeds of up to one gigabit per second. (1Gbps)

This latest investment, announced by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), will be focused on business areas such as the Dorset Innovation Park Enterprise Zone, a 56-acre site near Wool; and the Aviation Business Park, near Bournemouth Airport.

Residential premises in the East Burton, Ridge, Harman's Cross, Wareham and Hurn areas are also set to benefit.

Dorset County Council (DCC) cabinet member for the natural and built environment, Cllr Daryl Turner, said: "The work we are announcing will push fibre coverage even further.

"It will boost the local economy by giving more homes and businesses access to the very fastest broadband speeds.

"Meanwhile, we continue to work with the minority of Dorset communities which are now outside fibre broadband plans, helping them access funding towards alternative solutions."

Last month (JUNE) the Daily Echo reported how Purbeck had been named as one of the slowest places in the UK for broadband speeds.

Despite 10Mbps being the minimum speed for families under the government's Universal Service Obligation, many areas were falling short, a study by consumer association Which revealed.

This study, using data collated from Speed Checker Ltd, found connections speeds in Purbeck were the firth worst in the UK, and the second worst in England after Ryedale in North Yorkshire.

On the latest announcement, Paul Coles, BT's regional partnership director for the south west, described the move as "another step forward for Dorset."

The Superfast Dorset project is being funded £2m from Dorset LEP; £2m from central government, and £3.4m from BT.

Interim Dorset LEP director Rob Dunford said: "A high speed digital infrastructure is crucial to supporting local economic growth.

"A better connected Dorset helps to create the right conditions for businesses to thrive and for more highly skilled jobs and housing to be created."