TWO Essex villages are among the first to benefit from new wireless technology bringing superfast broadband to rural communities.

FASTER broadband connections will not be automatically rolled out to isolated rural areas, the government has confirmed.

Government proposals for faster broadband connections could place an unfair cost on rural residents, the Rural Services Network has warned.

RURAL residents with slow or inadequate broadband connections should be compensated, say business leaders.

RURAL broadband is less than one third the speed of connections in towns and cities, says the government’s communications watchdog.

Confirmed by the government, the funding will be matched by the private sector to generate a total of £8m to deliver ultrafast broadband speeds to at least 4000 premises.

A new report into broadband access shows the “dire” level of availability in rural areas, says Lib Dem leader Tim Farron.

A partnership to provide 90,000 homes and business with superfast broadband in Dorset has reached 80% of its target.

A government pledge to bring faster broadband connections to the countryside must be made reality, say rural leaders.