AROUND 50,000 more homes and businesses in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight will have access to faster broadband by the spring of next year, BT has announced.

Horndean, Alresford, Bransgore, Bursledon, Fordingbridge, Hamble, Harestock, Romsey and Twyford will be among those upgraded to BT’s next generation copper broadband service.

They will get broadband speeds of up to 20 megabits per second (Mbps) – double the top speed previously available to the majority of UK homes and businesses.

John Weaver, BT’s south east regional director, said: “Faster broadband can help businesses become more competitive and greatly improve the online services available to families and homeworkers.”