Berkshire Campaign for Faster Broadband
3 September 2012, 05:00
People in Berkshire are being urged to sign up to a campaign for superfast broadband.
West Berkshire Council say at the moment 159,000 homes and businesses, more than 40%, don’t have access to faster internet speeds but would benefit enormously if they had.
Fast broadband gives seamless streaming of video, and makes downloading music, internet banking, shopping, social media, and the posting messages for community groups much easier.
A campaign's started to convince internet providers there is a demand for the service.
Councillors say the government's allocated £1.43m to help roll-out the new technology and local councils, including parish councils, are match-funding that.
The missing investment is from internet providers who need to upgrade local telecoms cabinets with fibre optic connections to complete delivery. something they won't do without proven demand.
To support the campaign residents and businesses are being asked to go to www.superfastberkshire.org.uk and ‘register’ that they want superfast broadband to be available.