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Reaping many benefits of broadband
THIS week we launched some exciting new proposals on the future of high-speed broadband. I know that not all readers use email or the internet – or will ever want to! But lots do. In fact, for most of us it's part of our daily lives.
Many local people are unable to access broadband – normally just because they happen to live in a rural location. Many more find their broadband so slow it's almost useless. It's pretty slow where we live at Dial Post.
People in rural communities, without speedy internet access, can't reap the benefits of internet banking, online Post Office services or internet shopping.
After all, with bank branches, village stores and post offices fast disappearing they're the ones who need access to alternative services the most.
I'm also talking about businesses not being able to compete with competitors, often in Asia, who have better services.
Our new plans are wide-ranging. We would:
Roll out superfast broadband at speeds of up to 100 Mbps across the Horsham area by 2017.
Open up BT's 'local loop' monopoly to other telecommunications operators.
Investigate the use of sewers and other utility infrastructure to lay broadband cables.
Allow telegraph poles to be fitted with fibre optic cables, rather than old fashioned copper wire.
Ensure that all new homes are capable of receiving superfast broadband through a fibre to the home network.
Use money currently allocated to the digital national TV switchover to help establish a universal network, and after 2012, look at using this money to ensure superfast broadband reaches rural areas.
Our plans would put us in the global premier league of broadband speed and it's been estimated that the changes would create around 600,000 ICT jobs in four years, with our country being transformed into a global hub for the creative industries – something which is impossible at the present time because although we have creativity in buckets, we are unable to distribute it effectively.
Think of the difference it would also make to so many local people's daily lives if they, a) had broadband, and b) had superfast broadband!
All businesses, but particularly small, medium and rural ones, would benefit; many, many more people would be able to work from home and home-based and sole trader operations would spring up all over the place.
Rural communities have suffered over the last decade – with crucial parts of village life, whether it's schools, post offices, shops or pubs disappearing forever.
Broadband will go someway to rejuvenating communities.
I'd love to hear what readers think about these plans.
Reaping many benefits of broadband
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Weather for Horsham
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 6 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -7 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
