THOUSANDS more people will be able to connect to superfast broadband in Hampshire.

More than 14,500 premises across the county that would otherwise miss out on the advantages of faster internet speeds will benefit from the county’s Superfast Broadband Programme.

A £13.8 million county-wide rollout is on track to extend superfast broadband to 90 per cent of Hampshire’s homes and businesses by the end of 2015.

Plans are also in place to reach even more premises, with a joint £18.4 million investment from Government and Hampshire County Council to extend superfast coverage to at least 95 per cent of premises by the end of 2017.

The county-wide rollout is a key part of the council’s long-term economic plan to secure Hampshire’s future by providing access to superfast broadband in areas that the private sector would not otherwise have reached.