With 10 million people struggling to get online through a lack of digital skills and a further eight million considering giving up their broadband or mobile data because of the cost-of-living crisis * – never has giving the gift of digital been so important.  We are launching a Christmas campaign called #GiveTheGiftOfDigtal and you don’t have to put your hand in your pocket to make this gift.  Not many people know this but there are lots of initiatives – both nationally and here in #DigitalDorset – to help people get, or stay, online.  But why are we urging you to give your lo ..read more

Louise Butcher, Content Designer at Dorset Council, pictured at Blandford Library. For residents in Dorset, Blandford Library is more than just a place to loan books. For many, Blandford library is a community hub and a place to connect. In 2021 the library was upgraded to a gigabit-capable network, making buffering screens a thing of the past. Before gigabit broadband systems in the library were slow, often dropping out or not loading at all. This would have a knock-on effect to the public computers as people often had limited time to complete work. Thanks to UK Government’s investment Bland ..read more

Digital Dorset has received more national recognition after being shortlisted in the prestigious Connected Britain Awards in the Smart Place category. From helping thousands of Dorset’s digitally excluded residents get online to ground-breaking innovation projects, our work is fast becoming a blueprint for rural areas of the UK and beyond. Here’s how Dorset Council, and its many partners, is helping to make the county a Smart Place: Innovation. Our multi-award winning 5G RuralDorset project has trialled several ground-breaking and world-leading research projects to test how 5G tech can boost ..read more

Community champions Sarah  (left) and Adam (right) helped to bring better broadband to their village of Affpuddle. They joined forces with Minna of Wessex Internet (centre). In November 2020, as lockdown pressures continued to bear hard on people, here at Digital Dorset we wanted to help some of the communities that were suffering the most – those with the poorest broadband. The Covid pandemic meant we were far more reliant on the internet for working, home schooling, accessing important services like health, shopping and staying connected with our loved ones. For people living in areas ..read more

How gigabit capable broadband can ensure the future of our village halls Better connected – Wimborne St Giles village hall can now offer so much more after being connected to gigabit capable broadband For generations, village halls have been the beating heart of communities up and down the country ­- they were the centres where friendships were made, and society came together. And even to this day, their important role in village life cannot be underestimated. But are their futures guaranteed as the world moves at such a fast pace as we all jump on board the technological highway? Do we still ..read more

Nestled in the far western corner of Dorset is the stunning Marshwood Vale – made up of rolling hills and villages and hamlets scattered among the valleys. To the outside world it looks like the place where time had stood still. But beneath the idyllic rural scenes are residents and businesses very much of the 21st century that, until a few years ago, were trying to get by on 20th century technology. Farmers, barristers, teachers, and small business owners were struggling to get by on pitiful broadband speeds below 1Mbps. Now, thanks to public investment, most premises in this most remote pa ..read more