HAMPSHIRE residents will be among the first to benefit from a massive investment in the future of rural broadband.

The leader of the county council, Cllr Keith Mans, has welcomed a government funding boost that aims to ensure broadband reaches "hard to connect" parts of the countryside.

Hampshire is set to receive a share of between £148m and £250m awarded to the region as part of the government's Project Gigabit.

Cllr Mans, who represents Brockenhurst in the New Forest, said: "I'm delighted that Hampshire is at the vanguard of the Project Gigabit programme.

"We have made the case at a national level to ensure our residents are among the first to benefit from this funding to deliver digital infrastructure in areas that have proved to be stubbornly unviable for commercial suppliers to reach.

"We estimate this investment for the region could deliver gigabit broadband to an additional 150,000 properties, enabling rural communities to get connected, whilst fuelling job creation and economic growth."

Since 2013 the county council has championed high-speed connections for people in rural locations, enabling 115,000 more homes and businesses to get connected.

Project Gigabit aims to encourage commercial operators to help the areas that are the hardest to reach.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight have been allocated up to £250m as part of a £5bn investment approved by the government.

The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is set to procure contracts for the region’s roll-out in February 2022, with delivery expected in 2023.

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