Suffolk: Figures highlight need for faster broadband in county

By Mariam Ghaemi Thursday, February 2, 2012
6:00 AM

A MAP revealing broadband performance across the UK proves the “desperate need” for faster speeds across Suffolk, campaigners have said.

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Independent regulator Ofcom’s broadband map shows the county is ranked four out of five - with five the lowest or slowest - for overall broadband performance, only beating areas such as Wales, Cumbria and the Highlands.

When it comes to superfast broadband availability, Suffolk falls within category five at 29%.

Suffolk County Council has launched the Better Broadband for Suffolk campaign - which is backed by the East Anglian Daily Times - to establish high-speed connections across the county.

Suffolk County Council leader Mark Bee, who is also chair of Better Broadband for Suffolk, said: “These figures provide further evidence to prove just how vital the Better Broadband for Suffolk campaign is.

“Suffolk has one of the worst broadband networks in the country and if we don’t take action to change that, the county’s businesses, public sector organisations and local people will be left behind the digital revolution.

“That’s why it’s so important that as many of Suffolk’s businesses and households as possible sign up and support the campaign. This is a time for pulling together to achieve something that will benefit us all.”

The broadband map shows that 19.8% of people in Suffolk are receiving less than 2 megabits per second (Mbps) and the average sync speed (or connection speed) across the county is 6.3Mbps.

Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP Daniel Poulter is pushing for better broadband in the county alongside Waveney MP Peter Aldous.

Dr Poulter said the figures emphasised the point that Suffolk is in “desperate need” for better high-speed broadband.

He said: “It’s vital for businesses, it’s vital for farming, it’s vital for schools, it’s vital for hospitals.

“Everyone should have the right in Suffolk, the same as people in more urban parts of the country, for high-speed broadband in their own homes.”

Dr Will Gibson, chief executive of Suffolk ACRE (Action with Communities in Rural England), added how access to broadband could “dramatically improve” pupils’ educational attainment.

“There are some really serious issues here and broadband, the upload and download speed, are key, and that’s why in that sense we are supporting the Suffolk broadband initiative.”

The county council was awarded £11million by the Government in September to help improve broadband infrastructure.

The county council will match this sum before going out to tender in May for a private sector partner, who will be expected to invest about £20million.

Mr Bee said it was important people signed up to the Better Broadband for Suffolk campaign to demonstrate to ministers and potential suppliers that people needed and wanted improved broadband and the county was an attractive place to invest in.

Dr Poulter said the Government had made money available, but we needed to make sure the project “actually happens”.

Today, Ofcom has said UK consumers are achieving 22% faster broadband speeds at home than they were 12 months ago according to new research by the regulator.

There are still gaps between advertised speeds and speeds actually received by customers, but there is new guidance for adverts which will come into force in April.

Adam Scorer, director of policy and external affairs at Consumer Focus, said: “People don’t expect to pay for what is advertised as a fast lane service and get a slow lane delivery.”

He added: “We hope that new rules from the regulator coming into effect in April will tackle this and that enforcement action will be taken against any company which isn’t upfront and honest.”

The Better Broadband for Suffolk residents’ and businesses survey can be found online at www.suffolk.gov.uk/broadband

For more information on the broadband map visit http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/broadband/