THOUSANDS of homes and businesses in Hampshire are set for a superfast broadband boost.

The multi-million pound second wave of the Hampshire Superfast Broadband programme is set to get underway.

Hampshire County Council and partners, such as BT, are pressing ahead to boost the number of properties across the county with access to broadband of speeds of 24 megabits per second (Mbps) or faster.

Wave 1 of the programme has delivered access to superfast speeds to 63,000 premises and Wave 2 will deliver to a further 34,500 by September 2018, including to Stubbington (Hill Head), Rownhams, Alresford, Winchester and Hayling Island.

Leader of Hampshire County Council councillor Roy Perry said: “The UK continues to be the leading nation in Europe for take-up and usage of digital services, and take-up through Hampshire’s programme has exceeded expectations.

“Thanks to £28.4 million of funding from the county council, the Government, partner authorities and BT, the programme has already increased superfast broadband coverage from 80 per cent to 90 per cent of premises in the county.

“Wave 2 of the programme will further increase coverage to 96 per cent of premises in the county – supporting businesses, the local economy, the provision of educational resources, as well as helping reduce social isolation.”

Cllr Perry added he was pleased a deal between BT’s network division Openreach and the Home Builders Federation will offer free or co-funded broadband to all new developments, Rural businesses have benefited from the programme, including Egg Day Nursery in the village of Sutton Scotney.

The nursery upgraded to Superfast Broadband in April this year, increasing speeds from 7mbps to 39mbps, which has helped its 20 staff care for 69 children.

Briony White, director of Egg Day Nursery, said: “Superfast broadband has made a big difference. Our administrative tasks and online nursery management system are wholly dependent upon our broadband connection.

“Our children’s learning and development is also recorded and shared with parents using an online system. Staff, children and parents have all benefited from the speed increase, as management tasks can be completed more quickly.”

A £1.2 million Innovation Fund Pilot from DCMS has also helped the scheme, reaching 1,700 homes in Winchester and East Hampshire districts through a mixture of technologies, such as radio and fixed wireless, in areas including Bramdean, Ropley, Privett, Gundelton and Preshaw. With the technology and infrastructure in place, residents and businesses can sign up for the improved broadband service via a choice of internet service providers.

For details to ‘switch on’ superfast broadband, visit hampshiresuperfastbroadband.com