TOLPUDDLE is leading the way with a new way of delivering superfast broadband now available in the village.

Events at the historic village led a communication revolution in the 19th century and today it is hooked up to the superfast fibre optic system.

It is one of the first places in Dorset to use a new cabinet that combines the two cabinets which are usually needed to bring fibre optic to an area.

Superfast Dorset is rolling out the faster broadband in the area and is a partnership between councils, BT and the Department for Media, Culture and Sport.

The new speeds will be available to the Tolpuddle Martyrs’ Museum, which tells the story of the 1834 injustice.

Tom de Wit, manager at the museum said: “The martyrs were tried at Dorchester, which had the first press bench in the country and the trial received a huge amount of attention.

“The resulting mass campaign to free them changed this country forever. Their story is still just as relevant today, so it is fitting that Tolpuddle is once again at the leading edge of a new revolution in communications technology.

Mr de Wit said that he was excited about what the new broadband speed would bring to the museum.
 
He said: “We are truly excited about superfast broadband speeds, which will help the Tolpuddle Martyrs Museum to engage fully with people in all sorts of ways, such as the new Tolpuddle Martyrs app.

“The app brings the martyr’s story to life through an interactive village trail on iPads and smartphones. This will allow the martyrs and their journey to remain at the centre of debate and discussion.”

The Superfast Dorset partnership has also announced that fibre optic broadband is now available to almost 70,000 Dorset households and businesses, more than three quarters of the way towards achieving its goal of reaching 90,000 Dorset premises by the end of 2017.

Dorset County Councillor Andy Canning who represents the area said he was pleased that residents will be able to access improved speeds.

He said: “I am really pleased that the residents of this beautiful historic village are getting access to superfast broadband. Our thanks go to the technical team that has made this happen.”

Paul Coles, BT’s regional manager, said: "Getting the faster broadband to such a rural area shows the success of the program in Dorset. He said: “The fact that superfast broadband is now available in a small village, such as Tolpuddle, demonstrates the success of the Superfast Dorset partnership in rolling out this exciting technology to some of the most rural locations.”