Broadband innovation benefits rural areas of Winchester

Parts of Ropley, Bramdean, Gundleton and Bighton - all situated on the eastern outskirts of Winchester, will be able to benefit from improved internet speeds from September.

An estimated 1,600 premises in these areas will be able to switch over to superfast broadband thanks to a £1.2 million commitment from an Innovation Fund set up by the Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) that was awarded to support a trial in Hampshire.

A mixture of tailored solutions including fibre to the street cabinets (FTTC), fibre connected directly to premises (FTTP) and fixed wireless technology will be delivered by Call Flow.

The investment has boosted the County Council's ambition to see faster internet speeds in some of the most remote areas of the county.

See if your home or business is covered by the Innovation Fund.

Areas like Ropley, Bramdean and Bighton are in the more rural parts of Hampshire not covered by the commercial roll out of superfast broadband, as they are expensive to reach and not commercially viable.

Hampshire County Council knows the benefits faster internet speeds can bring to local families and businesses, and has worked closely with Call Flow to identify a gap in the proposed coverage of superfast broadband which will now benefit from the deployment of a hybrid technology solution.

Hampshire's Superfast Broadband Programme has already seen over 31,500 premises given the opportunity to switch over to superfast broadband. By the end of the project, superfast broadband will be available to 95 per cent of premises in Hampshire, and more than 94,000 additional premises will have been enabled to access superfast services at a speed of at least 24Mbps.

Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Roy Perry, said:"Access to superfast broadband plays an important role in Hampshire's economic growth and performance, and I hope residents in these rural areas to the east of Winchester will take the opportunity to sign up to superfast broadband services and reap the benefits it will bring.

"We have committed significant funds to ensure superfast broadband reaches as many premises as possible across Hampshire, including areas where normal commercial considerations by the broadband providers would not justify installation. My ambition is to see at least 95 per cent of homes with access to superfast broadband."