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Bosses demand quicker internet ; Slow broadband stunts businessBroadband row breaks out after minister visits region [Western Daily Press (UK)](Western Daily Press (UK) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Broadband speeds in Somerset are so slow that the county is now uncompetitive, a business leader has warned. A row over the delivery of superfast broadband broke out yesterday as Communications Minister Ed Vaisey visited the county and urged businesses and communities to "get up to speed" on the benefits of the system through regular workshops now on offer. Rupert Cox, chief executive officer of Somerset Chamber of Commerce, countered: "They can talk about getting up to speed with workshops but without better connectivity there is no point. The business community is getting a right kicking. There needs to be a way of accelerating the Connecting Devon and Somerset programme. "Probably 80 per cent of the exchanges in Somerset still don't know when they are going to be considered. "We are going to be given this presentation about how wonderful it will all be, but we haven't got good coverage yet. This was a connectivity programme that was supposed to be finished by the end of 2015, and now we are told that will be 2016. In that time Somerset has become uncompetitive. Twenty eight per cent of those who responded to a recent chamber survey said broadband connectivity was the biggest single issue for their business." Some businesses are also frustrated that they are being asked to pay Pounds 1,000 a month to achieve the higher speeds. David Warburton, prospective parliamentary Conservative candidate for Somerton and Frome, passed on the concerns of Langport Business Group, which has 90 members, and of constituents in Rode and Beckington. "A lot of people are working from home and find the speed is very slow, and it sometimes drops out. It's hard to function in these situations," said Mr Warburton. "I want to make sure these communities get further up the pecking order. Mr Vaizey was sympathetic." Peter Hendrie, owner-manager of the White Horse Inn at Exford on Exmoor, has also told of his frustration at slow speeds. The Connecting Devon and Somerset programme, announced in 2013, is being paid for with a total of Pounds 94 million of BT, council and Government cash. It will ensure around 90 per cent of premises have access to fibre optic broadband by the end of 2016, and deliver a minimum of 2Mbps for all premises by the end of that time. Mr Vaizey announced that a total of 31 communities in the two counties are now able to access the superfast system through the programme. He was attending a Get Up To Speed workshop at Horton Manor, near Ilminster, in Somerset. Mr Vaisey maintained that Connecting Devon and Somerset has made "remarkable" progress. "The superfast broadband programme is on track and on time," he said. "Almost Pounds 100 million is going in through Devon and Somerset through BT, local councils, and Government. "We are working as fast as we can. BT worked right through the floods and we still managed to maintain the timetable. We wish it could be delivered tomorrow morning but it's a big engineering project. Devon and Somerset got more money than many other areas, and that is an indication of the challenge." Councillor David Hall, deputy leader of Somerset County Council, said: "Around 90 per cent of homes and businesses in the region will have access to superfast broadband speeds by the end of 2016, and we are making sure these residents know how to make the most of the opportunities." Laurent Boon, the BT programme manager for CDS, said: "Superfast broadband is already providing a major boost for the local economy and the benefits will grow as businesses take advantage of it." Write Western Daily Press, Temple Way, Bristol, BS99 7HD Email [email protected] Online westerndailypress.co.uk Share your views LETTERS, PAGE 21 > (c) 2014 ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved. |