9:00am Sunday 7th February 2010
By James Tourgout
PEOPLE have until the end of today to join the fight for top quality broadband in Dorset.
Businesses, individuals and groups are being urged to throw their weight behind a campaign for the super fast connection.
BT will be installing hi-tech exchanges and networks in the county to link to the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy for the 2012 Olympic Games.
But the company says that the county – and especially businesses – need to show that there is a demand for the high-speed service to keep the connection live after the Olympics.
The deadline for representations in an online questionnaire was put back from January 31 until today to give people more time.
Miles Butler, Dorset County Council director of environment, said: “Potentially getting more of Dorset hooked up to high-speed broadband presents one of the big opportunities of the 2012 Games. “The benefit would be shared across Dorset – including rural areas that don’t currently have good web access – not just the host towns of Weymouth and Portland.
“The support of businesses is crucial in providing a strong business case of Dorset’s potential online demand to influence BT and other communication providers to further invest in our digital infrastructure. I would encourage Dorset’s business community to help make this a reality by taking a few minutes to complete the connectivity survey.”
The council and Team Dorset are holding the survey to impress upon BT the need for the broadband. So far about 330 businesses have responded with most indicating a demand for the broadband service.
The fibre optic connection will support data, voice, media and mobile communications during the Games. The council is keen to keep the link as it would bring the quick connection to the county earlier that it might have done otherwise.
Go to the Hi-Speed Digital Dorset Connectivity Survey at dorsetforyou.com/broadband or teamdorset.org.uk
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