Rural homes in Dorset could receive faster broadband schemes, thanks to a new initiative from a broadband company.

EE, part of the BT Group, recently announced a new 4G home broadband solution which could connect more than 72,000 homes in the South West, with 6,000 of those in Dorset.

The scheme aims to improve the broadband speed to those living in rural areas, who are currently on able to access speeds lower than 10 Megabits Per Second (Mbps).

The service will provide customers with superfast broadband speeds at home using the power of EE’s 4G network.

EE’s new 4G home broadband, which combines the 4GEE home router with a powerful external antenna and professional installation service, has been designed specifically as an alternative for those in rural communities that have yet to be connected with traditional fixed line broadband access, or where customers can only receive slower fixed broadband speeds.

The new solution allows customers to access EE’s superfast 4G network which currently extends to 90 per cent of the UK’s landmass (equal to more than 99.6 per cent of UK Homes).

EE predicts that there are 580,000 UK homes with slow or no fixed line access which could benefit from the solution, and will continue to roll out 4G in to new areas of the UK, with the ambition to extend 4G to 95 per cent geographic coverage.

Max Taylor, managing director of marketing for EE, said: “As our network continues to expand into some of the most remote parts of the UK, we’ve seen the amazing impact 4G connectivity can have on rural communities.

“Our newest 4G home broadband router and antenna takes this one step further, ensuring thousands of families in rural areas across the UK could enjoy the benefits of superfast broadband inside their home for the very first time.”

“They will be able to video-call the grandparents, or stream their favourite TV series.”

Sarah Lee, head of policy at the Countryside Alliance said: “Fast and reliable internet is just as essential in the countryside as it is in urban areas, but unfortunately it is not currently as widely available.

“This is a major issue for everyday life at home- students rely on decent internet for research, parents need to bank online and thousands of rural families are missing out on a wealth of on-demand entertainment.We welcome this innovative solution and believe it will have a big impact on some of the most remote communities across the UK.”

For more information, visit ee.co.uk/broadband