HAMPSHIRE’S superfast broadband programme has reached another major milestone with the 300th cabinet in Hampshire now enabled with speedier internet access.

The green cabinets seen on many roadsides in towns and villages have helped the county reach 72,000 homes and businesses, which would not have been covered by the commercial market, and who can now access new fibre-optic technology providing faster broadband, with speeds greater than 24 Mbps.

County council leader Roy Perry said: “We continue to make strong and significant progress with our ambition to ensure people living and working in Hampshire can take full advantage of all the internet has to offer. But I will not be satisfied until we have 100 per cent of premises faster internet speeds access.

“However, what is really encouraging is Hampshire has one of the highest take-up rates of superfast broadband in the country.

“Not only does this demonstrate how important superfast broadband speeds are to our residents and businesses, but it also means more can be reinvested in our programme to go even further, by using the claw back mechanism we have contractually agreed with BT.”

BT’s Stacey King added: “This is great news and a significant milestone for the joint partnership in Hampshire . More high-speed broadband connections will help businesses grow, attracting inward investment and boosting the local economy.

“Whatever you do online, you can do it better with fibre broadband.”

In Hampshire, the Government, county council and other partners are providing more than £29million of investment to ensure more than 97,000 additional homes and businesses can gain access to superfast broadband, once the programme is complete.