NEWS that more than three quarters of properties in his constituency now have superfast broadband coverage has been welcomed by Meon Valley MP George Hollingbery.
Out of around 41,240 premises, 33,390 have full or partial coverage.
Thousands more still needed the “reliable and fast connectivity” though, he said, if the rural economy here was to thrive.
The Meon Valley is part of the Hampshire programme, which has been allocated more than £15.2m of government funding to hook up areas where commercial operations had not been connected.
A further 4,518 properties across the constituency will be connected up by 2018, according to estimates from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.
“A largely rural constituency like the Meon Valley really does need government money to ensure the vast majority of residents get access to superfast broadband,” said Mr Hollingbery.