Business Campaign to Improve Village Broadband Speeds

I noticed this article in the May edition of 'Business Focus' included within last week's Rugby Advertiser newspaper.

Poor broadband speeds in our villages continue to be a barrier to all of us enjoying the full benefits of the internet, and anyone trying to do something about that deserves our support. Therefore, I would urge as many businesses and residents as possible in Shilton and Barnacle to complete the survey on the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce's website.

Companies feel the need for speed by Peter Ormerod

A Rugby businesswoman is leading a campaign for faster internet connections in the town and surrounding villages.

Leigh Hunt works as an e-business adviser for Warwickshire County Council and is helping a group of companies and local authorities put together a bid for high-speed broadband across the county. She is now calling on businesses to tell her how the current system is working - or not working.

Leigh said: "Superfast broadband is not just a luxury for businesses. It has become essential. It's impossible to overstate the massive benefit this would bring to the whole economy - especially in our more rural areas, which are currently at a disadvantage because of not being able to use everyday technologies. But we need to know exactly how the current system is working and how it is affecting business to prove that action is needed."

Leigh believes that, as an example, every business and household should be able to use the BBC's iPlayer without difficulty - something that's not the case at present.

She added: "That's a good benchmark and if we can get the entire sub-region up to speed it would bring huge economic benefits. Even in places like Shilton, businesses have problems.

The campaign is being waged on behalf of Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, which includes councils in Coventry, Warwickshire and Solihull and the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce.

Businesses and individuals wishing to make known their views on the subject can complete a survey at the Chamber's website.

See www.cw-chamber.co.uk for more information.

It's particularly pleasing that the rural areas are recognised as suffering with poor broadband connection speeds, and even better that Shilton is specifically highlighted as an example.

Read more about this here.