CIVIC chiefs have called on BT to announce who will benefit from its roll-out of superfast broadband in rural Hampshire.

The telecoms giant is introducing higher web speeds to 95 per cent of Hampshire homes and businesses in a multi-million pound government partnership.

But many villages and towns have been left in the dark about whether they feature in the plans.

Cllr Rob Humby, county councillor for Bishop’s Waltham, has warned that uncertainty could delay innovation.

He said: “My postbag has been full of letters from constituents in my own area who cannot get online and struggle constantly with slow connection speeds. The problem is particularly acute for business and farmers.

“From the New Forest to East Hampshire we have villages and towns who have been left with no idea of whether they will figure in BT’s plans.”

Superfast broadband enables faster access to high-bandwidth activities online, such as watching video and online training programmes.

“Hampshire’s rural economy depends on this infrastructure being right,” Cllr Humby added. “It may be that future innovation through technology such as Wireless To The Cabinet (WTTC) or VDSL amplifiers can push us beyond 95 per cent but we can’t even consider these until we know where we stand with BT.”

Cllr Roy Perry, leader of Hampshire County Council, has also thrown his weight behind the call.

BT is due to complete its roll-out to 90 per cent of Hampshire properties by the end of this year. It signed a second contract at Christmas to add 34,500 extra premises which are due to be connected by mid-2019.

The firm has previously said it will publish more details in the next three months.

A spokesman added: “This contract involves a great deal of detailed planning of engineering works to be completed. This is currently being undertaken.

“We will of course brief and discuss these with Hampshire County Council as soon as they are completed.”