MOST of Dorset is set to benefit from super-fast broadband thanks to an investment of more than £38million.

Plans to bring improved broadband to 90 per cent of Dorset by April 2015 have been approved by the government – with work on the ground expected to start as early 2013.

Shaped by the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, ‘Connecting Dorset Fast’ has successfully gained almost £10m from the government, which has been match-funded by all the Dorset councils.

The partnership says it will improve access to broadband for 172,670 business and premises.

Gordon Page, chairman of the Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I am delighted with the approval of Dorset’s broadband plan.

“Getting Dorset connected to super-fast broadband in order to attract new business and support existing enterprises is a top priority for the Dorset LEP.”

Speaking on behalf of the councils, Miles Butler, director for environment at Dorset County Council, said: “This is the biggest economic development project the councils have undertaken for many years.”

The government has allocated £530m to deliver super-fast broadband across the country in the lifetime of the current parliament, with potential for a further £300m up to 2017.